Lurgan man accused of assaulting his pregnant girlfriend, saying he 'hoped the baby died', is granted bail at Craigavon court

The defendant appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court via video link from Maghaberry Prison.

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Oisin McDonald, aged 25, from Killough Gardens, Lurgan, faces a series of charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possessing the Class A drug cocaine, grievous bodily harm with intent, possessing an offensive weapon, namely a mobile phone, with intent to cause an indictable offence, and criminal damage.

He also was charged with fraud by false representation, theft, false imprisonment, obstructing police, two counts of common assault and two counts of non-fatal strangulation.

A PSNI officer told the court the defendant intends making counter allegations against the complainant.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan recalled refusing bail in this case on March 13 and a further High Court appeal of that decision was unsuccessful.

McDonald’s barrister, Mr John Paul McCann, said the change in circumstances for a fresh bail appeal include the defendant’s parents offering a cash surety and the complainant in the case moved to Ballymena.

Objecting to bail, the PSNI officer said that on March 11 this year, police received a report from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service saying they had been flagged down by a member of the public saying they had seen a female running from a property in William Street, Lurgan with ‘blood all over her face’ however ‘would not disclose what had happened’.

When police arrived at the property they noted blood on the walls of the stairway leading up to the flat.

"Police heard a commotion in the flat. There was a hole in the wall and debris all over the place,” said the officer, adding police found McDonald hiding behind a sofa.

"Police also noted blood on the kitchen floor of the property,” she said, adding McDonald “appeared to be under the influence” plus there was “blood on his hands”.

McDonald told police his girlfriend had allegedly ‘fallen down the stairs’ and he had called his father to collect her and take her to Craigavon Hospital.

Police contacted McDonald’s father who said his son had called him to say the girl had hurt herself and needed to go to the hospital. When he arrived she was outside the property.

Police attended Craigavon Area Hospital to speak to the woman, who was 12 weeks pregnant with McDonald’s child, however she was initially reluctant to divulge what happened saying she had ‘fallen down the stairs and hit her head’.

"However she was voicing concerns that he may attend the hospital and she didn’t want him there,” said the officer.

The court heard officers noticed a small bag containing white powder suspected to be cocaine while at McDonald’s flat.

At the hospital the complainant claimed that throughout their relationship, since 2020, McDonald was ‘physically and verbally abusive’.

She further claimed that on March 9 this year, he ‘attempted suicide while on Facetime stating he would kill himself if she would not get back in a relationship with him’. After that she returned to live with him.

The woman further claimed that since March 9 he had ‘punched and kicked her, smashed up her mobile phone and also taken £355 from her Universal Credit account’.

The officer said that the complainant further claimed that on March 11 there was ‘an altercation’ over him purchasing cocaine. She claimed the defendant ‘beat her to the back of the head with his phone causing a laceration, punched and slapped her causing bruising, swelling and cuts to her face and punched her to the back of the head and kicked her over her body’.

The complainant also claimed McDonald ‘stepped in front of her and pulled her by the hair telling to come back inside the house’.

The woman also claimed he punched her to the stomach and told her he hoped the baby died.

"She then stated she went outside the property and asked a member of the public to contact NIAS as he had not but asked his father to take her to hospital,” said the officer, adding she made “detailed” statements to police including further allegations of two non-fatal strangulation attempts in September last year and on March 11 this year.

Objecting to bail, the officer cited McDonald’s previous convictions, that the complainant is pregnant and regarded as high risk of domestic abuse and that he is a Category 2 Violent Offender managed by PPANI (Public Protection Arrangements in Northern Ireland).

She also said there were five previous incidents reported to police with the defendant’s parents as victims including claims of emotionally blackmailing them in order to get money but none resulted in a conviction.

McDonald’s barrister said his client made “full denials” during interview and provided a full account. He said his client says the complainant “tripped” on a bike whilst walking up the stairs and there was confirmation there was blood on the wall on the communal stairs.

“It is his case that she flew into a fit of rage because regrettably he was video calling another female,” said the barrister, who also questioned the validity of the charges which his client will be contesting.

Mr McCann added that McDonald has suffered mental illness from childhood and had recently been attending a local church for support.

He said the defendant’s parents are “good people” and very supportive of their son who struggles with addiction issues who has “regrettably attempted suicide in the past”.

The barrister said his client can’t get a doctor’s appointment within the prison until June “therefore he is not receiving the appropriate medication”.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said he felt there were “evidential issues” with some of the charges.

He released McDonald on strict bail conditions on a £500 cash surety lodged by his parents. He is banned from contacting the complainant in the case and banned from consuming alcohol and illegal drugs.