Man accused of bus hijacking appears in court

A 39-year-old man has appeared in court charged with a number of offences after a bus was hijacked in County Tyrone on Saturday.

Daniel James Diver, 39, of Evish Square in Strabane, appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday.

A police officer told the court that Diver had made "full admissions" to police after he was arrested.

The 13 charges include kidnapping, hijacking and aggravated vehicle taking causing injury.

He was also charged with possession of an offensive weapon, namely a knife and possession of a class C drug, namely pregabalin tablets.

The officer outlined how Diver had been a passenger on the Omagh to Derry bus when he produced a "large knife" and told the driver he wanted to take over driving the bus.

He then instructed passengers to leave the bus. However, the bus driver was kept on board, to assist him in getting the bus started.

The court heard that while Diver was driving the bus it was involved in a number of collisions with other vehicles including one which forced a car into a ditch.

There was no application for bail.

Police recorded the bus travelling at speeds over 60mph and there were several instances where other drivers had to take evasive action to avoid being struck by the vehicle.

As well as hitting a number of cars, the bus also hit a road sign, a fence and a wall in Strabane which brought the bus to a standstill allowing police to remove Diver from the drivers seat and arrest him.

The policeman told the court that during interviews Diver made "full admissions and accepts his driving was dangerous and that he struck vehicles".

The judge ordered him to undergo psychiatric assessment and to appear again via video link at Strabane Court on the 8 October.