Derry Court: 31-year-old remanded for assault on former partner and her 10-year-old child

A man has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court today for what a barrister described as 'a dreadful series of allegations' in which he is accused of assaulting his former partner and her 10-year-old child.

Owen Gallagher (31) of Clon Elagh in Derry appeared charged with assaulting a female occasioning her actual bodily harm, assault on the same woman on August 16 with both offences aggravated by domestic abuse.

He was also charged with entering a premises as a trespasser and stealing cigarettes and money valued at £38 on the same date.

Derry Court: Nine months jail for assaulting former partner

Gallagher was also charged with threatening to kill the same female on August 17 and using the communication network to send threatening messages as well as a charge of assault on a child.

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail.

The court heard that police were alerted by a third party to a domestic incident.

They attended and the alleged victim, a female, spoke to them and was 'distressed' with swelling on her face.

She said the defendant had entered her home without permission after taking a key she knew nothing about.

The woman said Gallagher had punched her several times to the face and her children were present.

She later told police that she had received numerous calls from the defendant.

Police were later called on August 17 with the woman stating that at 7am she had woken up with the defendant standing at the bottom of her bed.

Her two children were in bed with her at the time.

The woman said he had punched her in the face and pulled her by the arm to the kitchen.

The woman got her 10-year-old to go for help and said that Gallagher punched her in the face again.

A neighbour then arrived and shouted at Gallagher that she was phoning the police.

Gallagher was said to have left taking money and cigarettes.

The woman said that in the next hours she received calls from the defendant claiming he would 'cut her throat' and he was also said to have claimed 'I stabbed my mate last night and I will stab you.'

Derry Court: Suspended sentence for assaulting his mother

Later that afternoon police were contacted by Social Services who told them the child had also been assaulted.

The 10-year-old told police he had tried to intervene when his mother had been assaulted and was pushed away banging his head against the wall.

The child also said that Gallagher told him to get his father here and he would fight him.

Gallagher was also alleged to have said 'your mother's dead and I will be back.'

When Gallagher was arrested he denied being near the address and denied making any calls stating it was his mother's phone.

Bail was opposed due to risk of re-offending and the fact there was no suitable address.

Defence counsel Stephen Mooney said that he would be proposing the accused could be released on bail to an address approved by the PSNI and outside the city.

He said Gallagher had a 'modest record' and it would be sometime before the case is dealt with.

The barrister accepted there was a 'formidable case' against his client.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that there was a risk of re-offending and interference with evidence.

He said that no address 'in or near this city' would be acceptable and refused bail.

Gallagher was remanded in custody to appear again on September 14.