Woman told that if she hadn’t attended hospital when she did, she would have died, Craigavon court hears in case of man accused of rape

The 45-year-old defendant appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court via video link from Maghaberry Prison for a bail application.

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The man, with an address in Portadown, is accused of raping a woman on December 26, 2025. He is not being named to protect the identify of his alleged victim.

He also faces a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and another of grievous bodily harm on January 3, 2026.

He is also accused of domestic abuse between February 21, 2022 and January 3, 2026.

A PSNI detective constable said that while an initial request for the medical records was made in March this year, the Trust was contacted again on August 27 when it was told of the court’s ‘grave concerns’ regarding the delay.

The consultant’s secretary told police they only became aware of the request on August 27.

The officer added that the defendant made admissions to the assault during interview.

He said the injuries suffered included broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and issues with her liver.

The detective said police received a call from a nursing sister at Craigavon Hospital’s Emergency Department who was calling on behalf of the complainant on January 3 this year.

The woman attended hospital and claimed she was ‘punched multiple times’ by her partner, the defendant.

When police arrived they were told the complainant was in the hospital’s resuscitation area after collapsing in the waiting area.

Some time later she told police that at 8am that morning, she was at her home in her bedroom. She claimed the defendant was ‘very drunk and seeking to have sex with her’.

She refused and she claimed the defendant then punched her a number of times in the arms and torso. Police observed significant bruising.

"The complainant states that these types of incident happen often. The defendant would drink on his days off and want to have sex with her. If she refuses, he would beat her up,” the officer revealed.

Police also spoke to the defendant’s daughter who said she did not see the assault that morning but heard the complainant crying and recorded this.

"She disclosed that she sees and hears violent incidents often and has heard her father sexually abuse the complainant before,” said the officer.

“She has heard the complainant tell the defendant ‘this is the last time you will rape me’,” said the detective constable.

The court heard the complainant told police that on December 26 last year she said ‘no’ to sex and claimed the defendant ‘became angry’ and ‘out of fear of being beaten let the defendant have sex with her’. She also claimed this had happened before.

Opposing bail, the officer said police have concerns of further offending.

"She was told that if she had not sought medical assistance when she did, she would have died,” said the officer.

The defendant’s barrister, Mr David McKeown, said his client has been in custody for nine months and pointed to delays.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: “I’m concerned about the way the Trust have dealt with the case.”

He refused bail. The case was adjourned until November 6.