'Silent call' led to partner's arrest after allegedly breaking door in to attack woman, court hears

Tom Tuite

A "silent call" led gardaí to trace a Dublin woman's phone and the arrest of her partner, who allegedly hammered his way through a door to attack her, a court has heard.

The man, in his late 20s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Judge Peter White at Dublin District Court.

He is accused of assault causing harm to his partner in the early hours of Friday.

In objections to bail, the court heard "gardaí responded to a silent call and the number was traced to the apartment".

A local garda said they found the woman in distress and suffering from facial injuries. The en suite bathroom door was broken in and had hammer marks.

The woman, visibly upset, told the court that she had been out with a friend and returned to her north Dublin home at 3.30am and was attacked by her partner.

She alleged he pulled her by her hair and began punching her head, face and back. The woman said she had bruises on her body and an injury to the back of her head.

She said she locked herself in her bathroom, and the accused could hear her using her phone.

The woman claimed he used the hammer to smash the door, reached in a hole and opened it and "pulled me out by my hair and attacked me again".

The court heard they had children together, and she feared for her life.

She alleged that previously, he told her that he would throw acid in her face if she went to the gardaí. The defence proposed that conditions set down by the court would result in a remand in custody if they were broken.

Bail was set with an order to lodge €750, and he must have no contact with the woman. He has yet to enter a plea and will appear again later for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions to be outlined.