Man charged with assaulting his mother remanded in custody at Derry Court

A man has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court today charged with assaulting his mother.

Ryan Dixon (29) of Gulf Road in Killaloo outside Derry appeared charged with two counts of assault against his mother on November 21 aggravated by domestic abuse.

He was also charged with conducting in a course of behaviour that would be considered abusive causing physical or psychological harm on dates between November 21 and 22.

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

The court heard that on November 22 at approximately 9.50pm police received an abandoned 999 call and a woman could be heard screaming.

A short time later they received a second call from the same number when a woman told them she was being attacked by her son.

When police arrived the reporting party was 'visibly upset and distressed.'

She said her son had been drinking all week and had 'reached for her' and told her he was going to punch her.

He told his mother 'I am going to take lumps out of you.'

The woman also told police about an incident on the previous day when she alleged Dixon had tried to punch her in the face but missed.

Dixon was arrested but was not deemed fit to be interviewed for some 24 hours.

He denied the charges.

A bail address was suggested with his grandfather but the officer said that was quite close and unsuitable.

Bail was opposed due to the risk of re-offending and the officer said there was a 'high risk' of harm.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that he had to acknowledge a lot of what had been said was accurate.

He applied for bail with conditions such as a ban on alcohol.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that the grandfather's address was clearly unsuitable as it was 'within walking distance'.

He refused bail and remanded Dixon in custody to appear again on December 8.