Suspended sentence for man charged with criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon

A man has appeared at Derry Magistrates' Court charged with criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

Ivan McDowell (47) of Rathlin Drive in Derry was charged with the incident that occurred on November 11 last year after police responded to reports of a domestic incident involving McDowell and his partner.

McDowell said that his partner had been making threats and had assaulted him, leading to him picking up a metal pole and smashing the window of her car.

When interviewed by police, he admitted to this but neither he nor his partner made any statements against each other and no compensation was sought as the car has since been scrapped.

Defence Barrister Michael Donaghey said that the incident 'didn't happen in a vacuum', telling the court that McDowell's partner had allegedly driven at him in the past.

He added that the last relevant conviction on McDowell's record was in March 2023.

He was sentenced to six months in custody, suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay a fine of £240.