Newtownabbey man facing several domestic violence charges denied bail over breaches

The allegations in this case are of domestic violence involving coercive abuse, name calling, non-fatal strangulation and sexual denigration

A man facing several domestic violence charges was refused permission to be resubmitted to bail after a judge cited recent breaches of conditions. Damien McGuinness, of Mill Road in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, is charged with three counts of non-fatal strangulation and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The 36-year-old is further accused, and also denies, seven common assaults and one domestic abuse offence. A prosecution lawyer told Belfast Crown Court today the offences were allegedly committed against the defendant’s ex-partner on dates between May 2023 and June 2024.

She told Judge Peter Irvine that there has been a “substantial breach history in this case”.

“The allegations in this case are of domestic violence in the most extreme nature involving coercive abuse involving name calling, non-fatal strangulation and sexual denigration ” said the prosecution lawyer.

“On one occasion the complainant states that the defendant put his hands on her private parts and made her smell his hands, telling her: ‘It smells like condoms’.

“She said he asked her who she had been with and she replied ‘nobody’ and he called her names like ‘slut’ and ‘liar’ and punched her on the chest.”

The complainant alleged McGuinness pushed her over a sofa and accused her of sleeping with other men and repeatedly kicked her on the legs.

“He strangled her in a somewhat unusual way in that he put her in a headlock and lifted her off her feet,” the prosecutor told the court.

“She suffered black eyes, swelling and bruising as a result of the repeated attacks on her. He elbowed her in the eyes and pulled the hair out of her head.”

The prosecutor said McGuinness had a domestic violence history with a previous partner which included allegations of unwanted contact, repeated obsessive jealousy and non-fatal strangulation.

An investigating PSNI officer told the court that McGuinness breached his bail on July 15, 2024, by going to the complainants home and “banging on her door”.

The officer confirmed that McGuinness had a Crown Court bail application granted to allow him to take up work as a car transporter. The officer added: “The employer wanted to give him another chance.

“Within 24 hours of starting employment he didn’t turn up for work. He was contacted and he basically refused to attend. His employment was terminated swiftly.”

The officer said that McGuinness had sent through child maintenance payments to his ex-partner which included messages such as ‘Love youse’ and ‘Love you’.

The prosecutor said McGuinness was subsequently breached at Belfast Crown Court for these messages and was given a final warning not to contact the complainant again.

The constable said the most recent breach was on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, when McGuinness ‘liked’ an Instagram post by the complainant.

He told the court he contacted the defendant who was aware that police had been at his address but did not answer the door.

“He said he didn’t answer the door because his child was present and would not be handing himself until Sunday, July 27, as he didn’t want to spend the weekend in the cells.”

Objecting to bail, the prosecutor said there had been repeated interference with the victim and there was a fear he would not present himself at court.

Defence barrister Sean Doherty said McGuinness denied the allegations “in the strongest possible terms”.

“We don’t accept the chronology of alleged bail breaches. A breach is a breach when it is found to be so by a court,” said Mr Doherty.

“He had custody for the weekend of his five-year-old daughter and he didn’t want a situation where he was arrested in front of his child.”

He added that McGuinness had spent the past ten nights in custody for his “foolishness” and urged the court not to grant the “permanent revocation of his bail”.

Judge Irvine said the prosecution had outlined their concerns about interference with the complainant and if granted bail would not present himself at court in the future.

“On July 23 this year the defendant was clearly in breach of his bail terms and I accordingly do not grant bail in the circumstance,” added the judge.

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