Enniskillen Magistrates Court
A BROTHER who is accused of banging his sister’s head off a door and dragging her around his house has been refused bail after a judge said he had a history of violence against women.
Killian McMackin (30) from Mill Hill Road in Newtownbutler was arrested on suspicion of assault causing actual bodily harm following the alleged incident at the home where he was living in Lisnaskea on Friday morning past, November 24.
Police had been gone to the flat after receiving a 999 call to say there was an ongoing violent attack taking place. When they arrived they spoke to McMackin’s partner, who told them he had assaulted his sister, Andrea.
After arresting McMackin, police visited his sister in hospital. Among her injuries were bruising and swelling to her cheeks, red marks on her forehead and neck, a lump on her shin, and scratch marks to her arms. She was taken to hospital after complaining of feeling dizzy.
Ms McMackin told police she been at her brother’s flat when she heard him shouting at his partner. When she intervened she said the defendant pushed her and banged her head off the door, and then dragged her around the flat. She said he’d punched her in the face and grabbed her by the throat, trying to strangle her, before she got away from him.
McMackin denied assaulting his sister, telling police she had attacked him. Enniskillen Magistrates Court, where McMackin appeared on Monday having been remanded in custody all weekend, was told during his police interview the defendant was angry and had trouble controlling his anger.
On Monday, police objected to McMackin’s bail application, citing concerns he would reoffend due to the fact he had a domestic violence record from a previous relationship.
Defence barrister Ciaran Roddy said it was clear McMackin had a prima facie case of a serious nature to answer, and said while the father-of-three had a limited record did have previous for domestic violence, he contended what had happened was “akin to self defence” and had never breached bail previously.
Police said Ms McMackin had admitted to defending herself by scratching him, and Judge Broderick asked how McMackin could explain his sister’s injuries.
McMackin has two separate, unrelated sets of charges pending against him, and Judge Broderick said he wished to deal with all three matters together, adjourn the other matters until January. He refused to grant McMackin bail, stating that while the bail hearing was not a trial, McMackin had a case to answer and was someone he believed used violence against females.
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