A 31-YEAR-OLD man who repeatedly punched his mother in the face and threatened to kill her while brandishing a large kitchen knife has been jailed for four months.

Kevin McConnell, of no fixed abode, Enniskillen, was charged with making threats to kill his mother, possessing an offensive weapon with the intent to stab her and unlawfully assaulting her on January 20, 2017.

McConnell pleaded guilty to all three offences when he appeared before Fermanagh Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon, via videolink from Maghaberry prison.

The court heard that police were tasked to a 999 call. A female reported that she was being assaulted by her son at an address in Irvinestown.

She subsequently escaped to a neighbour’s house.

The woman told police that she had been assaulted and threatened by her son. Officers observed that she had “numerous” injuries.

There was swelling to her eyes and forehead and bleeding from her ears and head, the court heard.

She was conveyed to South West Acute Hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, officers went to address where the incident occurred, found the defendant with a large kitchen knife and restrained him.

Two knifes were seized at the scene, the court heard.

During a later interview with the police, the defendant made a full admission.

He admitted punching his mother several times and threatening her with a knife.

When asked if he had threatened to kill her, McConnell replied: “Yes, I think so.”

A Public Prosecution Service (PPS) representative told the court that the injured party did not wish for a restraining order to be considered.

Defending counsel, Stephen Fitzpatrick, admitted that his client had committed “very serious offences” which he accepted crossed the custodial threshold.

However, he urged the judge to give credit for the defendant’s admissions at interview stage and early guilty pleas.

The barrister told the court that McConnell had “various issues that he needs to attend to” upon his release.

Mr Fitzpatrick revealed that, prior to the incident, the defendant had not had contact with his mother for 20 years and now accepted that their relationship was “beyond repair”.

In mitigation, the barrister said that McConnell wanted to apologise for his “outrageous” actions, which, he conceded, would be deeply concerning to the court.

Mr Fitzpatrick added: “In his favour, he met this head-on.”

District judge, Amanda Brady, observed that there was “no question” this case passed the custodial threshold.

She imposed a four-month jail term on the defendant.