Derry man with 150 convictions refused bail over alleged assault
Thirty-one-year-old remanded until August 20 following alleged assault and phone theft
A man has appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court charged with criminal damage, assault and stealing a phone.
Michael Connors (31) of Patrick Street in Derry was charged with the offences that were said to have occurred on July 25, when police responded to a report of an assault.
The alleged injured party told police that he and his partner had invited Connors and his partner to their home.
When the conversation turned to a former partner of Connors', Connors was said to have become irate and it was claimed that he pulled the alleged injured party off the sofa, hitting him against the wall and punching him repeatedly.
Police said that they have photographs of injuries to the alleged injured party's face.
Connors also allegedly lifted a Samsung phone as he was leaving and it was claimed he later returned and began to kick the door.
He was subsequently found and arrested but denied all the charges.
Police objected to bail as Connors has 150 previous convictions, including a number of assaults.
Police also say that there is a 'clear risk' that he would break any bail conditions.
Defence Barrister Stephen Chapman said that Connors 'completely denied' the alleged injured party's account of what had happened.
He said that Connors claimed to have only been in the flat for a short time and that the alleged injured party was drunk at the time.
Chapman also pointed out that the alleged injured party has a record himself for serious assault.
District Judge Onnagh Mullen said that Connors has 'an excessive criminal record 'of 150 previous convictions' denying bail.
He will appear again on August 20.