Jail sentence for domestic violence

A man has been jailed for five months after being convicted at Londonderry Magistrates' Court of harassing, assaulting and stealing from his ex-partner.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Jun 2016, 15:00 BST
The courthouse at Bishop Street, Derry.The courthouse at Bishop Street, Derry.
The courthouse at Bishop Street, Derry.

Ryan Hegarty (35) of Glenabbey Drive was charge with harassment, two counts of making threats to kill and two of common assault against his ex-partner and another man on dates between June and August, 2015. It also emerged that an iPhone and £700 were stolen from Hegarty’s ex-girlfriend.

Eoghan Devlin, defence counsel, said his client had a significant record and Hegarty admitted the offences against the other man but denied those against his former partner.

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He said Hegarty had a history of mental health issues, had used alcohol as a crutch and the root of his mental health problems were thought to have stemmed from a traumatic incident in childhood.

Counsel stressed there had been a gap of almost eight years since Hegarty had last committed fairly serious offences and he had been assessed as suitable for a probation programme.

District Judge Barney McElholm dismissed the idea saying Hegarty had showed no remorse and continually denied certain offences.

“Frankly, I don’t believe probation would ever get off the ground,” he said.

Judge McElholm sentenced the defendant to five months in prison and imposed a restraining order of four years on him.

Hegarty was also ordered to pay a £25 offenders levy.