AN ENNISKILLEN man accused of a domestic attack that allegedly involved an axe and a knife has been denied bail.
Robert Bruce (36) of Killyvilly Estate appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday charged with assaulting his partner on September 14. Bruce, who was described as “a computer engineer on a significant salary,” is also charged with attempting to choke and maliciously inflict grievous bodily harm, falsely imprisoning her, destroying her phone and possessing offensive weapons, namely an axe and a knife.
A police officer told the court the couple were cooking together on the evening in question, while their child was in bed. The officer alleged Bruce had been drinking whiskey and began to belittle his partner’s cooking skills and jabbed her in the ribs. She is said to have become distressed and when she asked Bruce to stop she said he reacted in fury and boxed her into a corner. She said she was able to slip past him then as he was drunk.
The woman said Bruce followed her and pinned her against the wall with a plastic chair. She said she slipped him and he followed. She said he then threw her on a bed, put his hand around her throat, lay on top of her, and began beating her about the head.
The woman said she then fled from the house and got into a car. She said Bruce followed and hit her, demanding the keys from her. She alleged he tried to drag her out of the car but she held on to the steering wheel. She said he then grabbed her phone and smashed it.
She said Bruce then seemed to go away, but returned and started knocking the windows with an axe. She said she was terrified and jumped from the car, stating Bruce swung the axe at her three times, hitting her knee with the final swing.
The woman said she made it to a neighbour’s house and police were called. Officers found Bruce in a nearby playpark, with an axe and a kitchen knife.
At court on Monday police opposed bail over concerns Bruce, who had no previous convictions, would return to the family home and pressure his partner to drop the charges. An officer claimed there had been domestic abuse going on “for years” and this was the first time they’d reported it.
Bruce’s defence lawyer said he was a computer engineer with IBM and would lose his job if he was remanded in custody.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan was unmoved and while accepting matters remain at this stage “alleged”, noted a child was in the house at the time.
“This was a sustained, prolonged and disgraceful attack,” he said. “I find the defendant does present a risk to the injured party, with risk also of interference.”
Bruce was remanded in custody to appear again by video-link next month.
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