Smashed window with toy pram

He was 40-year-old Neil McConville, Princes Street, Lurgan, and he admitted criminal damage to a coffee table, television, electric fire and window on October 28 last year.

McConville was ordered to do 160 hours community service.

The case had been adjourned from a previous court so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained.

A public prosecutor said that at 7.42pm police received a phone call about a domestic row in a house in Lurgan.

It was being wrecked by the defendant.

The injured party, McConville’s wife, brought three children to the neighbour’s house.

When police arrived they noticed a strong smell of petrol from the defendant and there was significant damage to the house.

The defendant’s wife made a statement of complaint which she later withdrew.

The injured party saw him smash the front windows of the house and made various threats to her although he was not prosecuted for these.

He admitted the damage and breaking the windows with a toy pram.

A barrister for McConville said he had made a full admission to the criminal damage but other charges had been withdrawn.

She explained that he had separated from his wife but despite this there was still an amicable relationship between them and she had attended court with him.

The lawyer told the court that McConville had a significant drink problem but had not taken drink since this incident and was making an effort to stay away from alcohol.