An Enniskillen man has received an 18 month probation order after pleading guilty to the assault of his former girlfriend who was pregnant at the time, and also one count of criminal damage. 

Rory McKechine, 39, with an address of Cleenish Park in Enniskillen, appeared at Fermanagh Magistrates Court yesterday (Wednesday). 
The court heard that the defendant in the early hours of the morning of May 22, 2018 had taken a taxi from Enniskillen to the injured party’s home. The injured party was pregnant with the defendant’s child at the time of the assault. 
It was revealed that the injured party was transferred to South West Acute Hospital as a result of the assault but was later discharged. The court heard that the injured party had given an account of events to the police which was recorded via body worn evidence. The defendant was said to have acted aggressively and was drunk at the time of the assault. McKechine had placed his forehead agaisnt the forehead of the injured party to the extent that it had become sore and tender and that he had also slapped her thigh and injured her ankle and foot. 
The defendant was arrested and interviewed at Omagh police station where he gave what “was in effect a no comment interview” according to the prosecution. 
The court also heard that McKechine had caused criminal damage in the injured party’s home by damaging a table, a cooker, cupboard doors and also the door of a shower. 
Defending barrister, Stefan Rafferty told the court that reparations had been made for all the criminal damage with the exception of the shower door which Mr. Rafferty explained had not been done because it was now planned to remove the shower and put a bath into the bathroom. 
Mr. Rafferty went on to tell the court that while the injured party had given her account of events on the night in question that she had said she would not make a written statement. 
He said that there was scope for legal argument to made around this issue but that the defendant himself had chose instead to plead guilty and that he should be given credit for doing so. 
On the incident itself, Mr. Rafferty said that it was no doubt “unsavoury” and “did not paint a pretty picture”.
He said that the defendant “offered no explanation as to his actions except to say that he had overreacted to comments made while being heavily intoxicated”. 
Mr. Rafferty went on to say that thankfully there had been no long term injuries to the injured party or to the unborn child. 
He went on to say that his client and the injured party did have regular contact on matters concerning their child and that there had been no incidents in relation to McKechnie in the intervening period. 
Passing judgement District Judge Stephen Keown said that it was “a disgraceful incident against a woman who should have felt safe”. 
He issued an 18 month probation order and warned McKechine that if he failed to participate in any programmes deemed fit by the probation service that he would find himself in custody.