Man appears at Derry Magistrates Court charged with breaching curfew and assault
Christopher O'Riley (32) of Glenvale Park in Derry was charged with the alleged offences that were said to have occurred on March 9
A man has appeared at Derry Magistrates Court charged with breaching his curfew and assault.
Christopher O'Riley (32) of Glenvale Park in Derry was charged with the alleged offences that were said to have occurred on March 9.
The court heard that police were initially called to Glenabbey Drive after reports of a suspicious male attempting to open various doors in the street.
He was then said to have entered the house of a woman as she was in the bath. When asked what he was doing, O'Riley began to swing his arms, leaving the victim in fear that she would be assaulted before he was stopped by members of the public.
O'Riley was then said to have told the victim that he knew her face and where she lived, saying he would come back and chop her up.
At the time of the incident, O'Riley had been out on bail and had a curfew for 9pm that he was in breach of.
The court heard that the victim was 'on the verge' of withdrawing her statement due to fear of repercussions. An independent witness had already withdrawn for the same reason.
Police objected to bail as they said there was a clear risk that O'Riley would interfere with witnesses or breach his bail.
Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley asked how the court could be expected to remand O'Riley to custody for a case that was 'likely to collapse' if the victim withdrew her statement.
Bail was refused and he will appear again on April 4.