A Belfast man who smashed his way into his ex-partner’s house then attacked her in the presence of their six-year old daughter has been jailed.
As Gerard McAllister was sentenced for three offences aggravated by domestic abuse, a CCTV recording of the incident was played at Belfast Crown Court.
In the footage, described as "harrowing" by a Crown barrister, the youngster can be heard screaming and crying in an upstairs bedroom whilst her father beats her mother with a weightlifting bar bell in the front garden.
The 43-year old, who served a prison sentence for attempting to murder another former partner in 2003, was deemed a dangerous offender by both Probation and Judge Philip Gilpin.
He was handed a sentence of seven years custody followed by licence of three years.
Prosecuting barrister Rosemary Walsh revealed McAllister and the injured party had been in a relationship and had three children together but split in 2021 when she moved to a new home.
At around 7.30am on July 5, 2022 she was at home when she heard banging at her front door.
She looked out and saw McAllister. She refused to open the door then saw McAllister pulling a metal bar from his trousers.
As she ran to an upstairs bedroom where her six-year old daughter was and barricaded the door with a chest of drawers, McAllister smashed the living room windows, gained access then started banging on the bedroom door.
Believing McAllister was going to kill her, she jumped out of the bedroom and dropped to the ground below.
She tried to get up but had injured her legs, and as she was lying on the ground she saw McAllister exiting the house via the smashed front windows.
Ms Walsh said McAllister then launched an attack.
The incident was captured on CCTV and the footage included screams and crying from the child.
After being confronted by neighbours, McAllister fled and was arrested the following day.
From Victoria Parade in Belfast, McAllister pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary with intent to commit grievous bodily injury, attempted wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily injury and making threats to kill.
The injured party was taken to hospital where she was treated for fractures to her left ankle and right heel.
She also sustained bruising to her back, shoulder, arms, right eyebrow and cheekbone as well as suffering soreness to her neck and jaw.
Ms Walsh told Judge Gilpin the injured party had to use a wheelchair for months, lost her job and has been left living in pain and in fear.
She also spoke of McAllister’s relevant previous offending which included being sentenced for attempting to murder another former partner. After the break-up of this relationship in 2003, this injured party was stabbed by McAllister whilst staying at a Woman’s Aid refuge.
Defence barrister Charles MacCreanor KC described the July 2022 incident and the CCTV footage as “a horror” and said McAllister accepted “he has done wrong and deserves to be punished”.
As he sentenced McAllister, Judge Gilpin noted his history of violence and said he found the CCTV footage “deeply disturbing”.