Sentencing adjourned in domestic violence case before Derry court

Brendan Joseph Harkin (43) of Cornshell Fields in Derry admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on his former partner, three assaults on police, common assault, resisting police and one charge of criminal damage that occurred on January 10 this year.

The court heard that police were called to a report of an ongoing domestic incident on that date.

They spoke to the victim whose clothing was described as being torn and who was 'distressed', the court was told.

The woman said that an argument had started and Harkin had punched her in the face.

She ran to a bedroom and phoned the police and Harkin was said to have damaged the bedroom door by punching it, the court heard.

When police spoke to Harkin, they said that he became aggressive and had to be handcuffed but kicked two officers.

When he was arrested, 14 Diazepam tablets were found on him.

Defence counsel Eoghan Devlin said that clearly this was a case where custody was inevitable. The defence counsel said that the only question was how long.

The injured party indicated that she did not want a Restraining Order imposed.

District Judge Barney McElholm said he would adjourn the sentencing until next week to allow the position on the Restraining Order to be clarified.

Harkin is in custody and will appear again on July 7.