Convicted Derry dog abuser remanded after alleged domestic assault and strangulation

A man who was previously convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court charged with domestic abuse of his partner, including charges of assault.

Peter Toland (31) of John Street in Derry was charged with two counts of assault on February 7 and 8, both of which are aggravated by domestic abuse.

He was also charged with assault causing actual bodily harm, non-fatal strangulation and, between September last year and February this year, abusive behavior, all involving the same alleged injured party.

The court heard at the time of the alleged offences, Toland was on bail for assault causing grievous bodily harm to a man in September last year, where he is seen on CCTV to approach a man and begin punching him, knocking him to the ground and continuing to kick him.

His co-accused was then seen to break it up but Toland broke free and continued attacking the man, leading to several weeks in hospital with multiple severe injuries.

Toland was granted bail on January 3 with conditions including that he not enter licenced premises.

On February 8, Toland was arrested for the domestic offences and for breaching his bail as he was in a hotel bar with his partner.

The alleged injured party said that they had been drinking in the hotel and that she had taken one glass of wine while he had eight beers before leaving home and two pints when they were out 

She told police that she had gone to the bathroom and taken a photo of herself, showing it to Toland when she returned.

Upon seeing the photo, he accused her of sending photos to other men.

The alleged injured party said that she and Toland had begun their relationship in September last year and that things were good for about a month before he began to push and shove her.

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She claimed that he repeatedly insulted her and insisted on seeing her phone and social media, accusing her of sleeping with other men, including her uncle.

She said that she tried to leave and Toland followed her, ripping her necklace and slapping her.

She then went home and was sleeping on the sofa when Toland returned and tried to cover her nose and prevent her breathing, something he was said to have done before to the point where she claims to have almost passed out.

Police objected to bail as Toland and the injured party live close to each other and he has 49 previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that Toland had denied all allegations against him but admitted he had been in the hotel in breach of his bail conditions.

He also said that Toland claimed his partner has her own mental health issues and had suffered 'a number of episodes' recently.

District Judge Oonagh Mullan said of his previous convictions that some were more serious than others, specifically mentioning his previous conviction for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, namely a dog. 

She added that he 'doesn't seem to have any respect' for women, remanding him in custody.

He will appear again on February 18.