Derry Court: Judge amazed domestic violence victim visiting accused in prison

A judge at Derry Magistrate's Court has said he is amazed that after a man was remanded in custody for a series of serious domestic offences that the alleged victim was allowed to visit him in prison.

Patrick Sherry (32) of Castle Hill Park in Ballygawley is charged with assaulting a female occasioning her actual bodily harm on March 26 this year.

He is also charged with attempting to choke the same woman, threatening to kill her, falsely imprisoning her and possessing an offensive weapon namely a clothes iron again on the same date.

At a bail variation hearing today a police officer opposed bail stating that the proposed address was simply too close.

She said the alleged victim in the case had made a withdrawal statement but had then reinstated her original complaint.

A defence solicitor said his client had been in custody for several months.

District Judge Barney McElholm has said that it was incredible that the alleged victim was given a pass to visit the defendant in prison.

He said it was clear that the accused was putting pressure on the woman to withdraw her complaint.

The judge said that he was making clear that there was to be no further contact between Sherry and the woman.

He added that if there was any further contact he would be seeking special measures to be imposed on the defendant to prevent it.

Refusing bail Judge McElholm said it was a serious matter.

Sherry will appear again on November 2.