Derry Court: Restraining order imposed on man jailed for harassing and threatening former partner

A man has been jailed at Derry Magistrate's Court today for threatening to smash the windows and burn down his former partner's home.

Shane Donegan (24) of Fountain Hill in Derry admitted a charge of harassment and one of threatening criminal damage that occurred on June 8 2022.

The court heard that on that date the police were contacted by the injured party to say her former partner, Donegan, was at her property threatening to break the windows and burn down the house.

She told police Donegan had come to the door and shouted for her to come out when she refused he said he would burn down the house.

The woman said to him about their child and he replied 'if you still have her in there more fool you'.

The court heard that the woman said she had moved to a new address in order to get away from Donegan.

She said he used to drive past her old address and harass her.

Police made 'multiple attempts' to locate Donegan but were unsuccessful and eventually the defendant handed himself in to police.

He denied the allegations and claimed that the woman was harassing his relatives.

Defence counsel Stephen Chapman said that the case involved access to a child.

He said that this was not a prolonged period of harassment.

The barrister said that there were no objections to a Restraining Order but asked that it could be varied to allow Donegan to attend a meeting about the child with social services.

District Judge Barney McElholm said he would not force 'this young lady to have any contact with this man'.

He jailed Donegan for 9 months and imposed a Restraining Order for a period of 5 years with a condition that he does not go within 500 metres of the woman's address.