Derry Court extends Restraining Order after ex-partner left ‘fearful’

A man has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrate's Court for breaching a Restraining Order by telling his former partner 'I will walk wherever the f--k I want'.

Thomas John Doherty (43) of Clon Elagh in Derry faced one charge of breaching the order on March 25 last year.

The court heard that the injured party was in her mother's garden when she saw Doherty coming up the street.

She told him he should not be there and he made his comment and she said his presence made her 'fearful'.

Defence counsel Michael Donaghy said that the defendant had remained outside the garden and it was the woman who made the initial contact.

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He said Doherty claimed his new partner lived close to the woman's mother's house and added there was no threat of violence. 

District Judge Oonagh Mullan said that if the defendant had to go past this house he should do so on the other side of the street and should not have made any comment. 

She imposed a sentence of three months suspended for two years and had his Restraining Order extended for a further 12 months.