A NEWTOWNBUTLER man alleged to have assaulted his partner a number of times over the course of a week also threatened to “throw her in the lough”, a court has heard.
Killian Lee McMackin (31), of Mill Hill Road, Newtownbutler, is charged with four counts of unlawfully assaulting the woman on dates between January 31 and February 4, 2019.
He is further charged with one count of attempting to choke, suffocate or strangle her.
After McMackin was arrested he appeared at Strabane Magistrates Court.
Objecting to bail a police officer said that, on Wednesday afternoon, the defendant’s partner had attended Women’s Aid in Enniskillen and alleged that he had assaulted her “a number of times” during the previous week.
The woman provided details of each of the alleged assaults and further claimed that McMackin had threatened to “throw her in the lough”, knowing that she was scared of water and leaving her terrified.
After the police took photographs of her alleged injuries, the defendant was arrested. During an interview he denied all the offences.
The court also heard that the alleged victim in the case had made further allegations of historic offences dating back to December 2017, when their relationship had started.
She alleged that she had attended hospital but did not report the matters to police.
McMackin had been bailed in connection with these allegations, pending medical evidence.
He revealed that McMackin had 22 previous convictions and was currently on probation.
But a lawyer acting on behalf of the defendant told the court that his client denied all the offences and gave a “full account” of what he said had happened.
“He didn’t sit and make no comment,” the lawyer said.
Referring to the historic allegations, he said that McMackin had been diagnosed with Asberger Syndrome and was able to remember each specific date.
“He gave a very detailed history of what happened,” the lawyer said.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said that, “with some hesitation”, he would grant bail.
The judge released McMackin on his own bail of £300, subject to a number of conditions including finding an address approved by the police.
He has been banned from having any contact with the alleged injured party, must stay out of Lisnaskea, refrain from drinking alcohol and abide by a curfew.
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