Belfast Magistrates Court remanded Paul John Burns, 46, and Paul Burns Senior, 65, in custody following a stabbing on Oldpark Avenue in north Belfast. The incident occurred shortly before 5pm on April 20. A man in his thirties sustained a partially collapsed lung after being stabbed in the chest. He also had lacerations to his hand and elbow.

Paul John Burns faces charges of attempted murder and possessing a knife with intent to commit an indictable offence. Paul Burns Senior faces charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon, a small wooden baton, in public. Both men also face charges of possessing a small quantity of herbal cannabis found at the scene.

The court heard the victim approached his mother's house, two doors from the defendants' home. Paul Burns Senior struck him on the elbow with the baton. Paul John Burns then came out of the house with a kitchen knife and stabbed him.

A friend drove the victim to Mater Hospital, where he underwent surgery and received a blood transfusion. District Judge Steven Keown denied bail and set the next court date for May 20.

An investigating detective told the court tensions between the victim and the defendants dated to allegations of an assault on a schoolboy in September of the previous year. The detective described a significant escalation from verbal disputes to weapons.

Defence barrister Chris Sherrard said the victim tried to force his way into the defendants' home. Paul Burns Senior used the baton to repel him but was pulled outside and attacked. Paul John Burns, who had been preparing dinner, went out to assist his father.