Woman ‘attacked by man with hammer’
Thursday, 12 January 2012
A COLERAINE man, has been refused bail after he allegedly assaulted a single mother with a hammer in front of her children.
John William McAuley, of no fixed abode, appeared before Coleraine Magistrates' Court via videolink on Monday, January 9.
He stands accused of aggravated burglary and attempting to inflict grievous bodily injury with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage.
A public prosecutor told the court that police were opposed to McAuley being released on bail, with Detective Constable Wilkinson outlining the facts of the alleged assault.
He said the defendant arrived at the home of the injured party - his ex-partner - around 11pm on the evening of Wednesday, January 4. McAuley, he said, then proceeded to smash the front window's of the woman's house with a hammer, before making his way into the property.
Det. Const Wilkinson explained that a struggle ensued, with the injured party's children witness to the assault, during which the defendant hit the woman with a hammer.
“The defendant fled the scene before the police arrived," Det Const Wilkinson continued, "and left for Letterkenny. He returned to the jurisdiction on Thursday, January 5, and was arrested the following day.
“The defendant admitted being present at the house and smashing the injured party's windows with a hammer but denies assaulting her with a hammer."
Objections
Asked to outline his objections to bail, the investigating officer said he had concerns that McAuley, 30, would interfere with witnesses and that he may leave the jurisdiction. Det. Const Wilkinson told the court that the accused also had a history of domestic violence.
A defence solicitor said his client went to a night club in Letterkenny on the night in question and checked into the Premier Inn in Coleraine the following morning as he had no address in Coleraine.
Francis Rafferty told District Judge Richard Wilson that McAuley had expressed an interest on a number of occasions that he "wants to go to Scotland and start afresh."
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