Derry man charged with domestic abuse offences and attempting to pervert justice

A man has appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court charged with a number of domestic abuse offences and attempting to pervert the course of justice. 

Gareth Wray (47) of Spencer Road in Derry was charged with, on November 21, non-fatal strangulation of his former partner.

He was also charged with, on November 19 and 20, assault of the same alleged victim, assault causing actual bodily harm on October 17 and attempting to pervert the course of justice by phoning an alleged victim of domestic abuse on November 23 to try and get her to withdraw her statement. 

Police were initially called by the alleged injured party on November 21 when she reported that she had been assaulted by Wray, her former partner.

She reported how, following an argument, Wray allegedly grabbed her by the neck in an attempt to strangle her.

On November 23, she spoke to police again and while she was being interviewed, she received a number of phone calls from Wray, who was in police custody, asking her to withdraw her previous statements.

Police objected to bail as Wray had been out of prison less than a week at the time of the alleged offences. He also has 46 previous convictions, including a charge of manslaughter and a number of domestic offences and has been assessed to be at high risk of reoffending.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley called the bail application 'difficult' considering Wray's considerable history but added that he denied the charges.

Derry man in John Caldwell case admits bail breach by going to bar outside curfew

Caolan Robert Brogan (26) from Bluebell Hill Gardens in the Brandywell area of the city has admitted possessing a document in which Dissident Republicans claimed responsibilithy for shooting Mr. Caldwell nine times

Police to review evidence gathered at Palestine Action protests in NI

Bail was refused and he will appear again on December 18.