A Ballygawley man with close ties to Monaghan has been refused bail after appearing before the courts charged in connection with a campaign of violence against his now ex-partner who is pregnant.
Patrick McSherry (30) of Castle Hill, Ballygawley faces multiple charges of assault and is also wanted by An Garda Siochana in connection with separate matters.
Dungannon Magistrates Court heard that the defendant’s ex-partner contacted police on the 4th of January indicating that he had subjected her to multiple assaults.
The first occurred on the 7th of November when he threw her across the kitchen floor, before choking her by putting his hands about her throat.
The court was told that a month later, he punched and kicked the victim causing bruising to her right eye.
Then on the 9th of December, the defendant struck his ex-partner again and placed both hands about her neck.
Matters calmed for a few hours but the court heard the defendant later choked the complainant to the point she lost vision and almost slipped into unconsciousness.
He then put his knee on her chest, leaving her struggling to breathe, and headbutted her.
The complainant was left with bruising to her nose, neck and chest.
The court then heard that on the 11th of December the defendant pressed his mobile phone against his ex-partner’s throat.
16 days later on the 28th of December he became aggressive, held her by the neck against a wall with one hand, and punched her multiple times to the face with the other.
Matters came to a head on the 3rd of January last when the complainant - fearful for her unborn child if she were to receive a kick to her stomach - left the property.
The court heard the defendant later facetimed her, threatened to kill her and then himself, and told her that everything would be her fault.
The court was also told the defendant was "a serious threat to women" and a "high risk domestic violence offender".
Mr McSherry will appear before the courts again, next month by video-link.
