A woman was allegedly attacked in the face with a glass at her West Belfast home, a court heard today.
Police claimed an intruder also slashed at the head of a man living at the house on Ainsworth Street. Patrick McKinney, 34, is accused of assaulting the pair after returning to the property in the early hours of Saturday.
McKinney, of Grays Hill in Bangor, Co Down, appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court charged with aggravated burglary with intent to commit grievous bodily harm.
The building labourer is accused of entering the house with a weapon, namely a glass. A detective said the residents alleged that McKinney made his way inside and forced the glass into the woman’s face.
According to their account he then punched her a number of times. It was claimed that McKinney also struck at the male resident and swiped at him with the broken glass.
The defendant was later arrested on the Seaforde Road in Newcastle, Co Down. Opposing bail, the detective said: “Both victims are known to Mr McKinney, and he knows their address.”
Asked the circumstances behind the alleged attack, he told the court they had all been drinking together earlier that night. It was alleged that McKinney left, but subsequently returned with the glass.
His lawyer stressed that he denied the charge, and provided a full account at interview.
The solicitor said: “My client has stated that he was allowed into the property by consent of the injured parties, there are no signs of forced entry.”
She also contended that one of the complainants tried to contact McKinney the next day on Facebook. Refusing bail, however, District Judge George Conner held: “There’s a very high risk of further offending.”
McKinney as remanded in custody to appear again by video-link in four weeks time.
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