Sion Mills man ‘held knife to three-year-old child’s throat’

During the bail application, the court was told that a woman reported to police on July 15 that he was inside her house in the Orchard Street area with a knife.

Officers forced entry as she shouted for help and detained Mr McNulty at the top of the stairs.

The woman and her young son were found in a bedroom, where a six-inch black handled knife was discovered lying on the floor.

“She was in an extreme state of shock and informed police the applicant had called at her home for a glass of water,” prosecution counsel said.

“She let him in and soon after he followed her upstairs.

“Whilst in the bedroom, he put a knife to the throat of the three year-old.”

It was claimed that the defendant punched her a number of times after she pushed him away from the child.

“She then said he put the knife to her throat, saying he was going to slice it and leave her son with no mother,” the barrister added.

As Mr McNulty was being put into a police car he threatened to headbutt officers, according to the prosecution, kicking one of them on the wrist and spitting on the hand of another.

In police interviews, the defendant claimed the woman had invited him to her home the previous day and asked him to bring alcohol.

He told police that he arrived with drink and cocaine, spent the night at the address and left the following day to get more alcohol and drugs.