Inishowen man accused of grabbing his sister by the throat appears in court in Derry

An Inishowen man whose 'instinctive reaction,' a judge said, seemed to be to grab his sister by the throat after an argument, has appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court. 

Eamonn Sweeney (53), with an address at Tooban, Burnfoot, was charged with the non-fatal strangulation of his sister on Sunday, September 28.

District Judge Conor Heaney warned that these were offences of 'the utmost seriousness'. 

The court heard how the alleged injured party reported to police that she had been assaulted by her brother in the car park of a restaurant in the Waterside area of Derry city.

She said there had been a family meal, and an argument ensued between her and her brother, Sweeney. 

The defendant was said to have 'stormed out' and then, in the car park, he was said to have grabbed her by the throat and then pushed her to the ground before leaving the scene. 

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Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said the defendant had no record whatsoever. 

He said he would be residing in Donegal, while the alleged injured party resided on the outskirts of Derry. 

The solicitor said that the defendant's father was willing to provide a £2,000 cash surety.

Judge Heaney said that it appeared Sweeney's instinctive reaction was to grab the woman by the throat.

He told the defendant he would release him on bail with a £2,000 cash surety and no contact whatsoever with his sister.

He will appear in court again on October 20.