A 55-YEAR-OLD man has been given a five-month prison sentence for breaching a restraining order.

William Thomas Birney, of Tullyreagh Road, Tempo, appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday via videolink from Maghaberry Prison in relation to incidents which took place from December 3-19, 2020.

On December 19, police received a 999 call from an injured party, saying they required help immediately before hanging up. When police rang back, they gathered that the injured party was with someone and was unable to talk.

When officers arrived at the house the victim was distressed and scared of the defendant, who was inside the property. Birney was arrested and taken to Omagh Police Station.

Footage from bodyworn cameras and a telephone interview with the injured party said that Birney had arrived two weeks prior, banging on the windows and doors, saying he had fallen out with his nephew and was homeless and had been sleeping rough.

The injured party said they had been arguing over money, and he had given her "dog's abuse" and also threatened to get someone to murder her.

She said that Birney had been constantly texting and phoning her, and she was afraid the man would hit her.

In his police interview, Birney said the injured party was the abusive one, and had her fist up, which put him in fear. However, he could not give a reason why he continued drinking in the house if he was in fear.

Craig Patton, Birney's solicitor, said the man was apologetic but that his previous record was not something he could cloak himself in glory with.

Mr. Patton described the situation as "sad", and said that following the argument with his nephew, Birney had, at the age of 55, found himself on the streets, but he had effectively been living in the injured party's house from December 3-19.

He added that the injured party had given an account of what it was like to live with Birney, and conceded that his criminal record would be at the forefront of sentencing by the court.

District Judge Steven Keown described Birney's behaviour as "appalling", and say that he terrorised the victim and continued to do so.

Handing down the five-month prison sentence, Judge Keown warned Birney that if he went near the injured party when he got out of jail, he would go straight back in.