Stewartstown man has bail revoked after 74 calls to estranged wife he allegedly assaulted

A man has had his bail revoked after making '73 or 74 calls' to his estranged wife over the course of a few days.
Dungannon CourtDungannon Court
Dungannon Court

Brian O’Hanlon, 35, from West Street Drive in Stewartstown, was granted bail after being accused of four charges, but was arrested after a breach of the terms on Tuesday last.

He is alleged to have assaulted a woman, attempted to damage a window and doors, as well as threatened to kill his wife’s father. The charges relate to alleged incidents on December 18 and 19 in the Clonoe area.

A constable from the PSNI told the court she would be opposing further bail for the defendant.

She disclosed that police had been contacted by the injured party, his wife, after she received “73 or 74 calls from a number she knew to belong to Brian O’Hanlon”.

She told police that she had answered several times as she had not realised that he was in breach of his bail conditions.

Several calls, the constable said, were received in the presence of the PSNI and the defendant left messages urging his wife to “stop torturing him” and answer her phone.

In answer to questions from defence solicitor Mr Karl Mallon, the constable confirmed that Mr O’Hanlon, a father of four, had no criminal record and had never breached the conditions before.

“He denies all charges,” Mr Mallon said, “but accepts that the calls were made.

“He says that the calls were initiated by her and a call to Social Services.

“He is devastated,” Mr Mallon told the court.

Revoking bail due to the defendant’s likelihood of interfering with witnesses and injured parties, District Judge John Meehan stated that the defendant had been “in complete defiance of bail”.

“He claims to be the victim ... but there are children involved ... and bail terms have to be taken seriously.

“One way he thinks he can reach out to his family is through Social Services,” Judge Meehan concluded.

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