Derry Court: Nine months jail for assaulting former partner

A man has been jailed for 9 months at Derry Magistrate's Court today for assaulting his former partner and stealing her mobile phone.

Kiral Cian McGilloway (34) of Crawford Square in Derry admitted a series of offences that occurred on November 24 last year.

The court heard that the injured party drove to the Strand Road station and alerted police her partner the defendant had assaulted her.

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She had redness and scratches on her neck.

She told police that she was in bed with the defendant but left as he was being aggressive accusing her of being unfaithful.

She said she drove to Muff for fuel and received messages from the defendant threatening to burn her belongings if she didn't return.

She went back to the house but sat outside talking to McGilloway on the phone.

He came out but had no belongings with him and he tried to get into the car but she had locked it.

She opened the window to talk to the defendant and he tried to pull her towards him.

When she tried to close the window she accidentally opened it and he dived in and opened the doors and McGilloway climbed into the back seat and tried to pull her in.

In the course of this he tore a hoodie she was wearing and then managed to grab her phone.

She told police that McGilloway had grabbed her clothes and she was 'gasping for air' and he told her 'I would like to kill you.'

When he left the vehicle she drove straight to the PSNI Station to report the incident.

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McGilloway was interviewed but made no admissions and denied stealing the phone or damaging her clothes.

He said he was aware there had been a Restraining Order in force.

Defence counsel Stephen Mooney said McGilloway had spent a short period in custody but he accepted these were 'serious offences aggravated by domestic abuse.'

District Judge Barney McElholm said that a Restraining Order had been imposed which McGilloway had not honoured.

He said that offences aggravated by domestic abuse was something that was taken 'very seriously in this city.'

He jailed McGilloway for 9 months and ordered him to pay £720 in compensation.