Shocking Allegations: Man Drags Partner Along Beach by Hair

A Belfast man allegedly trailed his partner along a beach by the hair and kicked her in the head during a drunken trip to the seaside, the High Court heard today. Violent Incident on Newcastle Beach

Warren Whiteside is also accused of repeatedly punching the woman in the face as part of the violent outburst in Newcastle, Co Down last month. The 33-year-old defendant, of Ligoniel Road, denies a charge of common assault, claiming any tensions between the couple were caused by her throwing his keys in the sea.

At an application for bail, prosecution counsel Sarah Minford said police intervened on May 31 after the pair appeared to be having a drunken argument on the beach in Newcastle. One officer allegedly saw Whiteside punching the woman a number of times, the court was told. She had a bloody nose, gash on her lip and bump to the forehead.

In an initial account at the scene she claimed Whiteside launched an attack as she tried to make her way to the bus station. “The injured party said he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her along the beach, booted her to the side of the face while on the ground and repeatedly punched her,” Ms Minford disclosed.

In police interviews Whiteside denied carrying out any attack. “He said he was wearing two sovereign gold rings which would have caused some damage if he had,” the prosecutor added. “He alleged she had thrown his spare keys in the sea, and that he pushed her away because she initiated (the row) by throwing a pebble and kicking his legs.”

Even though no formal statement of complaint has been made, Whiteside could still be prosecuted based on the police officer’s account and photographic evidence of injuries. Defence barrister James Toal accepted his client has a prima facie case to answer but has little memory of what happened. “He had been drinking whisky (on the beach) and doesn’t have much recollection,” Mr Toal submitted.

Mr Justice McLaughlin described the alleged circumstances as shocking and disturbing. “So many cases coming before the courts involve people in relationships characterized by drug or alcohol abuse, and a repeated cycle of violence,” he said. “This appears to be a particularly serious example of that cycle.”

Granting bail to Whiteside, the judge imposed an alcohol ban as part of strict release conditions.