Pushed his partner as he held their child

Mark Crowe, Westland Road, Portadown, admitted a charge of common assault on December 3 last year.

The court heard that police were called to a domestic incident at The Manor in Portadown.

The injured party said that she had been pushed by the defendant through a hallway.

A prosecutor said there were other allegations made by her but she did not wish to give evidence.

When interviewed Crowe said all he did was push her on the right hand side of her shoulder with their 11-month-old son in his arms.

He claimed she had been verbally abusive towards him and the ‘kid was shaking in my arms and crying’.

The case had been adjourned from a previous court to get a pre-sentence report.

Defence barrister Seamus Lannon said his client was normally of good character.

He explained that the couple had three children between them, three of which were his and he treated the other child as his own.

Mr Lannon said that Crowe got all four of them at his mother’s and took excellent care of them.

District Judge Amanda Brady said domestic cases were regarded as serious particularly when it was said there was a child in arms which was very regrettable.

She imposed a probation order for 18 months which the condition the defendant actively participated in any programme recommended by probation.