Bail for man charged with a series of domestic abuse charges

A man has been bailed at Derry Magistrate's Court today when he appeared charged with a series of domestic abuse charges.

Liam Nicell (34) of Creggan Heights in Derry was charged with a course of behaviour that constitutes domestic abuse on dates between May 12 and October 20 this year.

He was also charged with harassment over the same date with the offences aggravated by domestic abuse and making a threat to damage property on October 19.

Nicell was also charged with damage a tyre on August 29 and behaving in a threatening manner on dates between October 17 and October 20 thus year. 

He was further charged with abusing the communication network by sending menacing messages. 

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

He told the court that police were contacted by the alleged victim who told them her former partner had been behaving in a threatening manner. 

The court heard that a Restraining Order had been imposed which forbid contact. 

The woman told police that after the order had been imposed she 'naively' had a brief reconciliation with the defendant because he 'manipulated' her into believing that the allegations were her fault. 

The court heard that on August 29 the woman found she had a flat tyre and the defendant sent a picture of him with a screwdriver in his hand. 

On August 29 the woman allegedly received several threatening messages from the defendant. 

The officer told the court that on October 18 the defendant was said to have turned up at the woman's place of work shouting at her through a window. 

Later when she went to move her car he approached her and made threats. 

When Nicell was arrested he said he was aware of the Restraining Order but believed it had been ammended. 

He said he was in 'an on-off relationship' with the woman and claimed she messaged him. 

Police objected to bail as his address was too close to the woman's place of work. 

Defence solicitor Jack Quigley said his client had co-operated with police. 

Nicell was granted bail but District Judge Barney McElholm said he was getting a final warning any breach and he would go into custody. 

He will appear again on December 7.