33-year-old man charged with harassment of former partner remanded
James Doherty was also charged with three counts of threatening to damage property on the same date as well as a charge of attempted criminal damage and a charge of pursuing a course of conduct that amounted to domestic abuse
Derry Magistrate's Court heard today how as a woman was talking to police her former partner sent her a video of his bloodied hand.
James Doherty (33) with an address at Drumakilly Road in Omagh faced a charge of harassment that was said to have occurred in the Strathfoyle area on February 17.
He was also charged with three counts of threatening to damage property on the same date as well as a charge of attempted criminal damage and a charge of pursuing a course of conduct that amounted to domestic abuse.
All of these offences were said to have occurred on February 17.
A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail.
He told the court that the defendant was alleged to have tried to gain entry to a house in Strathfoyle by kicking at the door in search of his former partner.
He was at the same address later in the same date and was asked to leave.
The woman who lived at the address said that Doherty had first arrived in the early hours of the morning and herself and the defendant's ex-partner kept quiet in the hope he would go away.
A short time later the ex received a text telling her to open the door.
The defendant was then said to have arrived at the house for the third time and again was said to have been kicking the door.
He was alleged to have said: "I am going to keep going until I get what I want so you might as well give up."
During this time at the door the defendant was said to have put his hand through the letter box.
While the former partner was talking to police she received a video of the defendant's hand covered in blood and the woman recognised the background as being her home address where Doherty had no permission to be.
The woman also claimed Doherty had sent her a series of texts and voice messages on February 16 in which he threatened to burn down the house.
Police located him at the address and he denied the allegations or sending the messages but accepted that he had placed his hand through the letter box and said he had been 'slashed' with something.
Bail was opposed due to the risk of re-offending as Doherty had 23 previous convictions and 18 breaches of bail and court orders.
Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client could be released to an address approved by the PSNI.
He accepted his client had a poor record but said his last offending was in 2018.
District Judge Oonagh Mullan said it was 'concerning' that there was an extensive domestic history.
She said that Doherty was not a suitable candidate for bail and remanded him in custody to appear again on March 14.