'Serial perpetrator' charged with assaulting former partner remanded

A man has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrates' Court today for assaulting his former partner who lives next door to him.

Neil Joseph McFeely (40) of Lawrence Hill in Derry appeared charged with assaulting the woman on June 14 and two similar charges.

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

She told the court that the alleged victim contacted police to say she had been assaulted by McFeely. 

She claimed they had been drinking in her flat and an argument started and McFeely pushed her against a wall.

The woman also said that the defendant had told her if she phoned police he 'would slit her throat.'

At interview McFeely denied the allegations and said it was the woman who had become 'irate' and thrown her keys out the window. 

He claimed he had gone to get her keys for her.

The police officer described McFeely as 'a serial perpetrator' of domestic violence with 40 previous convictions and numerous breaches of bail. 

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said it was 'a difficult' bail application given the proximity of the addresses.

He said the defendant had been released on High Court bail to reside at the address next door to the woman.

District Judge Conor Heaney said he had no confidence McFeely would abide by conditions and remanded him in custody. 

McFeely will appear again on July 10.