Man accused of dragging ex-partner from bed by hair before scalding her with boiling water
A man accused of scalding his ex-partner with boiling water claims she slipped while holding the kettle herself, the High Court has heard.
David McAdams, 47, allegedly dragged the woman out of bed by the hair and trailed her into the kitchen to inflict severe burns.
Prosecutors also said the victim is believed to have been heavily pregnant at the time of the suspected attack.
Details emerged as McAdams, of Mayfield Avenue in Newtownabbey, was refused bail.
The HGV driver denies charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, common assault and criminal damage to a mobile phone.
He was detained after the woman’s mother alerted police to a phone call she received in the early hours of December 28 last year.
She reported hearing her daughter in a hysterical state and shouting at McAdams to turn on a camera to show what he had allegedly done.
Officers attended a house in the Lisburn area and located the defendant standing outside, where he indicated that he wanted to leave following a verbal row.
Police at the scene observed the alleged victim had extensive redness to her face, neck and arm which was starting to blister, the court heard.
In a subsequent statement, she claimed McAdams had spent most of the previous evening drinking and calling her a series of abusive names.
At one point he took her phone and left the property, but returned again around 2am, woke the woman up and called her mother.
McAdams then allegedly dragged her out of bed by the hair, trailed her into the kitchen and threw a pizza box at her.
“She stated that he boiled the kettle while she was asking for her phone back,” Crown counsel said.
“He grabbed the boiling water and threw it over her, causing burns to her face, neck and upper body.”
Complaining of being in a lot of pain, the woman was taken to hospital for treatment to her injuries.
“She stated she is terrified of Mr McAdams and what he might do in the future,” counsel added.
“She was very upset he had called her mother and allowed her to listen to what was happening.”
Based on their domestic circumstances, the prosecutor suggested she would have been heavily pregnant at the time.
McAdams denied all of the allegations during police interviews.
According to his version of events the woman suffered the burn when she slipped on a dog bowl and fell while holding the kettle herself.
Counsel for McAdams stressed he provided a full account to police and questioned the credibility of the complainant’s claims.
“This is a man who made stringent denials from the outset,” he added.
McAdams sought release from custody to take up a new job offer with an oil company in Co Armagh.
But denying bail, Madam Justice McBride ruled there would be insufficient protection for the alleged victim.
The judge stated: “This took place at a time when there was a very serious red flag, she was pregnant or had just given birth.”