Derry man remanded on multiple domestic abuse charges
Michael Murray (36) held in custody until July 2 following allegations of stalking, assault, and communication network abuse.
A man has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court today charged with a series of domestic offences including texting his former partner over 50 times in a matter of hours.
Michael Murray (36) of Epworth Street in Derry appeared charged with three assaults on his ex partner, two counts of burglary, an offence of domestic abuse, one charge of stalking, a breach of a non-molestation order, a threat to damage property, taking and driving away a vehicle and one count of abusing the communications network.
All of the offences were said to have occurred on June 4 and 5.
A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail.
The court was told that the woman alleged she had been assaulted by the defendant in her home when he pulled her hair.
She also said that on June 5 she had been in a bar and Murray had pulled her hair and tried to get her to leave.
Murray was removed by door staff but she said he waited outside the bar for several hours for her to leave.
Then she started to receive texts from her son's phone and she realised he had entered her house.
The police officer said that Murray had entered through a window.
The court heard that there 'a high volume of missed calls' and more than 50 texts some from his phone and some from the son's phone.
The messages were alleged to have continued until 6.30am.
The non-molestation order had been imposed in 2019 and a police officer said it was open ended and forbid Murray going within 100 metres of the alleged victim's home.
Bail was opposed as the officer said that the defendant 'didn't seem to accept he was no longer in a relationship'.
Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client had handed himself in to police and also handed over his phone.
He said that this was an ongoing relationship and Murray had thought the non-molestation order had expired.
The solicitor said that Murray and the woman had attended the child's First Communion on June 5.
Afterwards Murray consumed too much alcohol and was asked to leave the premises and waited for her for a period but would deny it was hours.
The solicitor said that Murray had then gone back to what he classed as the family home and denied breaking in.
He asked for bail with conditions that he does not enter the Creggan area.
District Judge Suzanne Rice said there was a high risk of reoffending and the courts took domestic offences seriously.
She refused bail and remanded Murray in custody to appear again on July 2.