Domestic abuse accused remanded due to 'horrendous record for violence'

A judge at Derry Magistrate's Court today said that a man with 'an horrendous record for violence particularly violence in a domestic setting' was totally unsuitable for bail.

Ryan Martin Tracey (33) of Mimosa Court in Derry appeared charged with a series of offences aggravated by domestic abuse.

Tracey was charged with two assaults on females, possessing an offensive weapon namely a vase, threats to kill and non fatal strangulation. 

All of the offences were said to have occurred on May 13.

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

The court heard that police were called to a report of an ongoing disturbance at an address in Mimosa Court. 

They attended and were told by the resident that all was quiet. 

Police walked through the flat to check and saw that a ton of paint had been spilled around the premises. 

Following this police went to a nearby address where they found two 'distressed women' who were bleeding and found the kitchen area to be 'blood splattered.'

One woman had cuts to her face, scalp and chest and the other had extensive cuts to her hands and a wound to her head that required three staples. 

Both women were interviewed separately and the court heard they gave similar accounts. 

They said they had gone to the other flat to retrieve a phone when Tracey became 'verbally aggressive' and kicked over a tin of paint before breaking a vase over one of the women's head.

The women said he then stabbed one of them in the chest and tried to slit her throat. 

One of the woman had been in a relationship with Tracey and said he wanted to resume that. 

The other alleged victim was the defendant's sister.

Bail was opposed due to the risk of 're-offending in a violent way'.

The officer said that Tracey had 69 previous convictions of which 23 were for violent offences and there was 14 previous bail breaches. 

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley asked the officer if during interview Tracey had claimed the two women had started smashing up the flat and was told this was correct. 

The solicitor said that both alleged victims appeared to have been intoxicated. 

He said his client was denying the offences although he accepted Tracey's record made the application difficult.

District Judge Barney McElholm said there was 'a severe risk of re-offending' and refused bail.

Tracey was remanded in custody to appear again on June 6.