Magherafelt man threatened to rip his wife's throat out and blow her up, court hears

Robert McKee, aged 58, whose address was given as Lester Terrace, admitted engaging in a course of behaviour that was abusive and intended to cause the injured party to suffer physical or psychological harm on dates between March 17 and October 18 last year.

District Judge Francis Rafferty also put in place a two-year restraining order and warned McKee that "your liberty is now in your own hands”.

Passing sentence, the judge told McKee that he was self-pitying and blamed everyone else when the only person to blame was himself.

He said he wasn't sending McKee to prison because he was never before a court before, he was taking steps to address his alcohol addiction, and had been offered accommodation by the Housing Executive.

Counsel prosecuting said on October 5 last, police received a call from the injured party that McKee had locked her out of her mother's house at Ardboe.

He said the defendant had sent her a number of text messages which were abusive and threatening.

The lawyer said he threatened to kill her and rip her throat out and blow her up.

The injured party told police that McKee was an alcoholic and when he was drinking was abusive, always belittled her, and this caused her to stay with her parents or work, counsel continued.

When arrested and interviewed by police, McKee denied all the allegations and said he would never threaten his wife and claimed they had been made up by her to make him look bad.

A defence lawyer said it was an appalling set of facts and an appalling pre-sentence report.

He stressed there was a sliver of hope in that McKee has now been sober for four weeks and seemed motivated to engage with the community addiction team having attended on three occasions.

Counsel also pointed out that the defendant was 58-years-old and this was his first appearance in a courtroom.

He pleaded with the court not to impose a custodial sentence.