A self-styled paedophile hunter accused of intimidation and having a crossbow has been refused bail.

Remanding 24-year-old Caolan Murray into custody at Craigavon Magistrates Court, Deputy District Judge Austin Kennedy said it was a “very serious concern” that Murray had allegedly armed himself with a crossbow and described him and those like him as “self appointed enforcers of the law.”

Caolan Murray (24), from Mark Court in Lurgan, confirmed that he understood the six charges against him, two counts of common assault and possessing a crossbow on February 22, along with two counts of attempted intimidation and a charge of false imprisonment allegedly committed on 18 January.

A prosecuting lawyer at Craigavon Magistrates Court described Murray as a “self styled paedophile hunter” and that the charges relate to a “sting, so-called” where Murray targeted a man who lived close to his home.

“He targeted this man and with a number of other people from a so-called paedophile hunter group, confronted him in the street and live streamed the entire incident on the internet,” said the lawyer.

Following that “sting” on 18 February, Murray confronted the same man on February 22 where he allegedly went to the man’s home “armed with a crossbow.”

The lawyer said in that incident, also streamed live on Facebook, Murray identified the “target’s” home and cars which belonged to the man’s family, adding that because of a “commotion” at the house, police were quickly at the scene.

“The target was punched in the face receiving injuries,” said the lawyer.

She revealed that police enquiries also established that Murray “was already in a dispute” with the so-called target who is an openly gay man, adding that police believe there is an element of “homophobia” in the background.

The court was told that “target” had been questioned over allegations of attempted sexual communication with a child and attempt to meet a child following sexual grooming but had been freed on police bail pending further enquiries.

Murray was remanded into custody to appear again on March 23.

As he was being led away, Murray shouted “up the paedo hunters.”