Man charged with threatening to kill Sinn Féin MLA Sinead Ennis

A registered sex offender has appeared in court accused of threatening to kill a Sinn Féin MLA.

In addition to being charged with threatening to kill Sinead Ennis on November 12. 2018, Paul Druse (45) was also accused of threatening to destroy her offices and pursuing a course of conduct against the South Down MLA which amounted to harassment.

Appearing at Newry Magistrates Court, sitting in Lisburn, via videolink from police custody, Druse was also charged with breaching the requirements of the sex offenders register on June 7 last year by failing to notify his address to police and causing criminal damage to a police vehicle on May 22 this year.

None of the facts surrounding the allegations were opened in court but Constable Lewis said he believed he could connect Druse to each of the offences.

Defence solicitor Jarlath Fields said while the is an “agreed way forward” as regards bail, “the difficulty is that he is no fixed address so bail would be subject to an address.”

Freeing Druse on his own bail of £500, District Judge Amanda Henderson said he would only be released once police had approved an address.

As part of his bail conditions, Druse is barred from contacting the Sinn Féin MLA, from being under the influence of alcohol in public and from entering Warrenpoint.

His case was adjourned to June 24.