Woman's teeth allegedly knocked out by her partner during domestic incident

A judge at Derry Magistrate's Court today said if a defendant's account was correct a woman had knocked her own teeth out and the man agreed.

Michael McGroarty (29) of Milldale Crescent in Derry appeared charged with a series of domestic abuse charges.

He was charged with grievous bodily harm with intent on his partner on December 3 and domestic abuse conduct on the same date.

He was also charged with assaulting the same woman on November 25, assault occasioning actual bodily harm on the same date and criminal damage charges. 

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail. 

The court heard that police were called to a domestic incident and the alleged victim spoke to them. 

She told police that the defendant had knocked her front teeth out. 

She said he had punched and kicked her, kneed her and stamped on her face. 

The woman was taken to hospital and it was found she had lost one tooth and 'severe damage' had been caused to several others which would probably require 'restorative surgery'.

A tooth was found in the house. 

The woman also told police about an incident on November 25 where she alleged the defendant had smashed her phone and kicked her to the face. 

At interview McGroarty claimed that the woman had attacked him and he had been assaulted.

District Judge Ted Magill said that if that was correct the woman had knocked her own teeth out and the defendant said that was right. 

A police officer opposed bail on the grounds that the defendant would try and induce the woman to make a withdrawal statement. 

She said that McGroarty was 'a high risk perpetrator of domestic abuse'.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client had answered all the questions put to him. 

He said this case would require further investigation and said that there was a considerable distance between the two and it could be managed by conditions. 

Judge Magill said he was 'not impressed' by the defendant and the idea that the woman had knocked her own teeth out.

He refused bail and remanded McGroarty in custody to appear again on December 21.