Derry man charged with assault causing actual bodily harm
Conor Colhoun (28) of Balliniska Heights in Derry was charged with the offences that were alleged to have occurred on March 9
A man has appeared at Derry Magistrates Court charged with assault causing actual bodily harm.
Conor Colhoun (28) of Balliniska Heights in Derry was charged with the offences that were alleged to have occurred on March 9.
The court heard that police were initially called to reports of a disturbance where a young woman was heard to be crying for help.
Police found the victim, who had recently turned 18, bleeding from various places and witnesses said that they saw Colhoun assault her, pulling her by the hair and punching and kicking her, dragging her down the stairs.
Police found lumps of hair and blood splatter in the stairwell and could smell cannabis in Colhoun's apartment.
Colhoun claimed that the victim had fallen down the stairs but also told police that he wished he had his hammer so that he could 'properly injure her'.
While in custody, Colhoun was charged criminal damage over damage caused to his cell and a police vehicle.
Police objected to bail as they fear he may interfere with witnesses and due to the level of injury to the victim, who suffered a broken nose, broken bone in her foot and multiple other cuts and bruises.
The court heard there were four witnesses to the attack and one said that she had been threatened by Colhoun in the past.
The court also heard that Colhoun had 53 previous convictions and was reported to be a high risk perpetrator of domestic abuse due to a report from another former partner. He was also currently on probation for drug charges.
Defence Barrister Grainne McAnaney said that she knew this was a 'difficult application for bail' and added that Colhoun had said 'vile' things when the charges were put to him.
She also added that Colhoun 'doesn't have a record for this kind of offending' and that he struggles with his mental health.
District Judge Oonagh Mullan called it a 'particularly nasty incident' and refused bail. He will appear again on April 4.