A Keady man who assaulted his mother and sister has been granted bail subject to an address being approved by police.
Court heard how the 23-year-old is alleged to have grabbed his mother in a headlock before biting his sister on the crown of her head as she tried to intervene, following an argument over the payment of a taxi.
James Murphy, of Madden Grange, appeared charged with two counts of common assault at Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry, on Tuesday.
Appearing via videolink from police custody, the defendant confirmed that he understood the charges and was connected to the same by a constable.
Defence solicitor Sabrina McKay made no questions to the connection and informed the court that a bail application, which was opposed, was being made on behalf of Murphy.
The constable stated that the defendant’s release was being objected to on grounds of likelihood of reoffending and lack of an appropriate address.
Addressing the issue over where Murphy intended to reside, Ms McKay stated that the defendant’s mother, the alleged injured party in the case, would be moving in with her sister leaving the property in Keady “vacant”.
The constable commented that he could neither confirm or deny this claim with police not having yet had time to check it out.
Outlining the case, he described how on August 9, at 10.15pm, police were called to a report of a domestic incident at an address in Keady.
Upon arrival, police located the two alleged injured parties, Murphy’s mother and sister, locked in an upstairs bathroom.
The defendant’s sister’s head was observed to be bleeding, as police spoke to them regarding the incident.
They alleged that at 10.15pm, Murphy had arrived at the address in a taxi and an argument began over the payment of the fare with his mother.
The defendant is alleged to have then grabbed his mother in a headlock before biting his sister on the crown of her head as she tried to intervene.
Murphy was located and arrested in the living room of the property. During interview he made mostly no comment but acknowledged the account of the alleged injured parties to be accurate.
Deputy District Judge Peter Prenter granted Murphy his own bail of £500 to an address approved by police with a single condition to have no contact with the alleged injured parties.
The case was adjourned until September 7 for an update.
