Man accused of biting and choking mother is refused bail

A man allegedly bit and tried to choke his mother during a family row in Belfast, a court heard today.
Belfast Magistrates' CourtBelfast Magistrates' Court
Belfast Magistrates' Court

Tomas Holmes is also accused of attacking his grandfather after asking if the older man thought he could “beat” him.

Refusing bail to the 21-year-old accused, a judge described the incident as “appalling”.

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Holmes, of Hazel View in the Dunmurry area, faces charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court was told he allegedly pulled his mother to the ground when an argument broke out at his home on November 26.

Police claimed he got on top of her, put his hands around her neck, and started to squeeze and choke.

According to witnesses who feared for her life the woman was saying: “I can’t breathe.”

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She managed to get free and went out to the front garden, holding on to a fence gasping for air.

A PSNI constable claimed Holmes got her to the ground again in a choke-hold position.

“While doing this he also bit his mother’s neck,” the officer alleged.

She was able to get up and ran across the street to a neighbour’s house.

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Holmes’ grandfather then discovered her in a distressed state and went to speak to him, the court heard.

The officer claimed: “Tomas asked his grandfather’s age and (also) asked ‘Do you think you can beat me?’,” the officer alleged.

“Tomas then attacked his grandfather, stuck his finger up his grandfather’s nose and grabbed him by the testicles.”

He was arrested after police arrived and broke up the struggle.

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His grandfather was bleeding from the nose, while his mother had bite marks to her head, neck and shoulder.

She also said her fingers were sore from an alleged attempt to bend them back.

During interviews Holmes claimed he had been attacked first.

However, defence barrister Luke Curran told the court his client intends to plead guilty to the charges.

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He said Holmes had suffered a breakdown and acted after a row started over a child.

“It was a very unpleasant incident for somebody who has no history of violence,” Mr Curran added.

He argued that the accused and his mother remain close and are in regular contact.

Police did not oppose Holmes’ release if he was banned from contacting the alleged victims as part of a series of conditions.

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“This is somebody who has no criminal record and just lost it,” the officer contended.

But denying bail to Holmes, Judge Austin Kennedy said: “This attack was quite simply appalling.

“(His mother) may well be in contact with him by phone, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she is happy for him to be back out in the community again.”

The defendant was remanded in custody to appear again by video-link on January 20.