Man sentenced to eight months for assaulting former partner and breaching restraining order

A man has been told that if he keeps breaching restraining orders he will keep going to prison.

Kieran Breslin (42) of Clooney Terrace in Derry admitted charges of breaching the order and assaulting his former partner on dates in April and July.

Derry Magistrate's Court heard that police were called on April 14 by Breslin's former partner at around 9.30pm to say she had been assaulted by the defendant.

She said he had punched her to the back of the head and on the 999 call a high pitched female voice could be heard saying 'send the cops he is going to kill me'.

When police arrived Breslin was still in the property. 

The court also heard that on July 13 the former partner said that Breslin was at the house and had assaulted her by punching her in the face. 

She told police she had invited Breslin to the house and a verbal argument had occurred. 

She asked him to leave and he had assaulted her. 

Defence counsel Sinead Rogan said that there were issues with both parties in this case. 

She said her client had 'held his hands up' to breaching the order.

The barrister said that Breslin knew he was getting custody, the only question was the duration. 

District Judge Barney McElholm said that it was 'a serious matter' to breach restraining orders.

Breslin was sentenced to eight months in prison.