Co Armagh man threw woman across a room and hurled lighter at TV causing it to explode, a Craigavon court hears

Gary Quinn, aged 29, from Wellington St, Lurgan, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday for sentencing.

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He had pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman, criminal damage and possessing the Class B drug cannabis.

Police had received a report of an “ongoing domestic” at Donard Gardens, Lurgan, on July 27 last year. Officers spoke with the victim who said she had told the defendant to leave the address however he became "aggressive”.

She said he had grabbed her by her arm and “threw her across a room”. “He pinned her to the bed in the living room via his knee and threw her phone across the room,” said a Prosecutor.

"The defendant then took his knee off the victim’s leg and threw her lighter at the TV causing the lighter to explode and damage the TV. The defendant left the room and entered the kitchen and punched an extractor fan above the cooker causing damage to it,” she said, adding this resulted in the victim’s flowers landing on the kitchen sink causing damage.

After Quinn was arrested police searched him and found a cannabis grinder and a small quantity of cannabis.

Quinn’s barrister Mr John Paul McCann said his client had pleaded guilty to the drugs charges at the first opportunity and entered pleas to the current charges “following negotiations and one of the matters was withdrawn”.

"I would suggest he was justified in taking the matter to contest,” said Mr McCann adding: “There was alcohol on board. There was a fall out. He does have a limited recollection of the events.

"You will see from his record this is very out of character,” he said. “It would appear this was simply a one-off and he simply wants to get his life back on track.”

Mr McCann said his client is a father-of-two who has suffered tragedies in recent years and substance abuse has been an issue for him. He said the relationship with the victim was “on/off” over four years and he hasn’t seen her since this offence and “has no intention of seeing her again”.

"He is disgusted and disgraced by his own behaviour,” he said.

For the drugs offence he was fined £200 plus Offender Levy of £15.

"The major problem here Mr Quinn is the domestic violence,” said District Judge Michael Ranaghan. “That is something that is widespread in this and other jurisdictions and somehow we must find a way to stop it."

"Sending you to Maghaberry is probably not the best way to stop that because it is a very short term solution to a very deep seated problem,” said the District Judge.

He handed down a Combination Order to the defendant including Probation supervision for 18 months “to make sure there is never a repetition of any form of domestic violence”.

He also ordered Quinn to carry out 80 hours Community Service and issued a Restraining Order for 18 months.