‘Violent offender’ who ‘poses a risk to any female he is in a relationship with’ remanded
Neil Joseph McFeely (40) of Lawrence Hill in Derry was charged with assault on a female aggravated by domestic abuse
A ‘violent offender’ who a police officer said ‘poses a risk to any female he is in a relationship with’ has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate’s Court.
Neil Joseph McFeely (40) of Lawrence Hill in Derry was charged with assault on a female aggravated by domestic abuse on November 8.
A police officer connected the accused to the charge and opposed bail.
The court was told that at around 4pm on November 8 police were called by the alleged injured party who said she had been assaulted by her ex partner, McFeely.
She claimed he had tried to force his way into her flat and had pushed her to the ground and punched her.
The woman claimed McFeely, who lived next door to her, had started banging on her door and when she answered he ‘shouted in an aggressive manner’ punched her to the face and pushed her to the ground.
The defendant denied the allegation and said he had been drinking in his flat all day and had not seen the woman all day.
The court heard that a CCTV camera outside the defendant’s flat had been moved.
The police officer said that she had spoken to the camera operator who said the camera had been turned upside down.
She said that the operator said that while the quality was poor the defendant could be seen going to the woman’s door and some sort of altercation took place
Bail was opposed as McFeely is seen as ‘a serial perpetrator of domestic abuse’ with 38 previous convictions.
The officer said he had previously breached bail on 14 occasions.
Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott asked the officer was the CCTV footage of a poor quality and was told it was.
He said he had only been made aware of the footage that morning and added that it ‘ made things difficult’ for McFeely.
District Judge Barney McElholm said McFeely was ‘totally unsuitable for bail’ and added he thought he had moved the camera to help his case but ‘he got that wrong’.
The judge continued ‘there is only one place where he belongs and that is behind bars’.
McFeely will appear again on December 5.