A 42-year-old father of three who attacked his wife and threatened to kill her has been fined £250.

Edward George Gordon, of Derrin Road, Enniskillen, appeared at Fermanagh Court and admitted unlawfully assaulting Roisin Gordon.

A prosecutor explained that on March 29, Gordon and his wife were at home in Newtownbutler. An argument took place and at one stage Gordon grabbed his wife and shouted at her, telling her he was going to kill her. He punched the walls and threw a cup, which smashed against a door. Two of their children were present and the third was in another room.

The prosecutor said police spoke to Gordon. He denied assaulting his wife but admitted saying he would kill her, although he said he did not intend to cause her any harm. His wife had declined to come to the court to give evidence against him.

Defence solicitor Myles McManus said Gordon voluntarily went to he police station and when arrested made full and frank admissions prior to any statement being made by his wife. She subsequently withdrew her complaint.

Mr. McManus submitted that the assault was of a technical nature and no injuries were noted. Gordon accepted there was a heated argument and he threw the cup, never intending to hit his wife.

District Judge Nigel Broderick said it was “still a frightening experience for the injured party”.

Mr. McManus said that following the incident Gordon had moved from Newtownbutler to Enniskillen. There appeared to be no prospect of a reconciliation between him and his wife. Social services had recommended that the three children should be placed with him.

The District Judge said it was not without significance that the children had been placed with their father.

He said the court takes any matter of domestic violence seriously. Thankfully there were no injuries to Mrs. Gordon “but nonetheless it would have been a frightening experience for her”.