An estranged Gloucestershire couple have appeared in court today jointly charged with attempted murder.

At Gloucester Crown Court Bernard McDonagh 28, of Draycott, Cam, Dursley and Tina McDonagh, 27, of Naas Lane, Quedgeley were accused of the attempted murder of James Quilligan on June 23, 2020.

Mr McDonagh is further charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Quilligan on the same date.

The court was told that Mr Quilligan had suffered 'exceptionally serious injuries'.

The defendants had gone to Castlebar in County Mayo, Ireland, shortly after the alleged offence last summer but due to Covid-19 travel restrictions they did not travel back to Gloucestershire until earlier this month, when they were arrested, the court was told.

Bernard McDonagh was remanded into custody while Tina McDonagh, a mother of four children all aged under 10, was released on conditional bail that included living at an address in Reading and being subject to an electronically monitored curfew between 8pm and 8am.

A family relative also gave a surety of £5,000 to ensure that Mrs McDonagh complies with her bail conditions.

The hearing was adjourned until June 7, 2021.