Man and woman charged with affray after Derry city incident

Two people have appeared at Derry Magistrates’ Court today charged in connection with an incident in the city centre on Friday evening when a man sustained serious facial injuries.

Ivan McDowell (47) from Rathlin Drive and Michaela Shields (37) of Circular Road both in Derry charged with affray on July 3.

They were also charged with possessing an offensive weapon on the same date.

McDowell was further charged with grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving while Shields was charged with common assault.

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

The court heard that police spoke to the alleged injured party in Altnagelvin Hospital who is awaiting surgery on a broken jaw. He told police he had been in a bar on the Strand Road at around 7.30pm when he was assaulted by McDowell and said a female was present.

The man claimed the female got out of car and threw liquid at him before he said McDowell hit him with a metal bar or wheel brace at least once.

The incident was said to been due to allegations of sleeping with a girlfriend while someone was in prison.

The incident was captured on CCTV and it is said to show the defendant McDowell striking the alleged injured party. He could then be seen getting an iron bar from the car.The police officer said the defendant McDowell was said to have punched the man six or seven times and kicked him on the face.

The court was told that McDowell was alleged to have driven his car towards the man.

When interviewed McDowell said the alleged injured party had called him 'an MI5 tout' and tried to attack his car. He said that he acted in self defence and admitted kicking the man once.

Bail was objected to due to the risk of reoffending and the fact the address was too close to the alleged victim.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott asked the officer could the alleged victim be seen pulling at a door of the car and was told he could be seen doing that.

District Judge Suzanne Rice said that the defendant's record 'gives the court serious cause for concern' especially as he had been in court in March this year for possessing an offensive weapon.

Mr MacDermott said that the CCTV meant there was no reason to fear interference with witnesses and the defendant could be released on bail on condition he is excluded from specific parts of the city.

Judge Rice said that she did not feel McDowell was a suitable candidate for bail and remanded him in custody to appear again on July 30.

As regards Shields the court heard it was the same set of facts but bail was opposed due to the unsuitable address which was said to be too close to the alleged injured party.

A defence solicitor said that the defendant's address was a good mile and a half from the alleged victim.

Judge Rice said the victim in this case is in hospital with 'significant injuries' and while the address put forward for Shields was 'a cause for concern' she would release her on bail to an address approved by the PSNI on condition she does not go within half of a mile of the alleged victim's address.

She will appear again on July 30.