A County Tyrone man accused of a campaign of violence against his now ex-partner who is currently pregnant, has been refused bail.
Patrick McSherry (30) of Castle Hill, Ballygawley faces multiple charges of assault alleged to have occurred on various dates over the last two months
A detective constable told Dungannon Magistrates Court the charges could be connected.
He explained McSherry’s ex-partner contacted police on January 4, alleging he had subjected her to multiple assaults.
The first is alleged to have occurred on November 7 when McSherry allegedly threw her across the kitchen floor, before choking her by putting his hands about her throat.
Exactly a month later she claims she was punched, causing bruising to her right eye.
On December 9, McSherry allegedly struck her again and placed both hands about her neck. Matters calmed for a few hours before McSherry again allegedly choked the complainant to the point she lost vision and almost slipped unconscious. He then put his knee on her chest, leaving her struggling to breathe, and headbutt her, court heard.
The complainant was left with bruising to her nose, neck and chest.
On December 11, McSherry allegedly pressed his mobile phone against her throat.
Several days passed without incident until Christmas Eve when McSherry allegedly became aggressive, punching her face with his fist.
Then on December 28, the complainant said McSherry held her by the neck against a wall with one hand and punched her multiple times to the face with the other.
This caused a severe nosebleed and when the complainant went to the bathroom to wash the blood from her face she fell unconscious, coming round to McSherry allegedly shaking her to wake up.
Her face was sore and swollen and a head wound was bleeding down her back.
Matters came to a head late on January 3, when the complainant alleges McSherry kicked her to the chest causing her to fall backwards. Fearful for the unborn child if McSherry were to kick her stomach, the complainant left the property.
She later allegedly received a facetime video-call from McSherry in which he threatened to kill her, then threatened to kill himself stating it would be her fault.
Police observed bruising consistent with the accounts given by the complainant.
When McSherry was arrested he was highly intoxicated, putting him in breach of bail terms imposed for a separate case in which he allegedly kicked his sister in the face.
Opposing bail the detective said McSherry is “deemed to be a serious threat to women and a high risk domestic violence offender. Over the last two years, three different women have alleged he has committed violent offences against them. In 2020, his then partner fled with their newborn baby after being choked and assaulted.”
The detective added McSherry has connections in Monaghan, where he is wanted by An Garda Siochana for three arrest warrants.
A defence barrister described the complainant’s delay in reporting the allegations as “curious”.
Urging bail to be granted he said: “She is now his ex-partner and living elsewhere. My client has no intention of pursuing her in any shape or form.”
But District Judge Michael Ranaghan refused, commenting: “We are familiar with the patterns of domestic violence and how eventually it can be one straw too many that breaks the victim’s back.
“This case involves a litany of offences including kicking the chest of a lady who is pregnant. I believe this man does represent a risk to women.”
McSherry will appear again by video-link next month.
