KRISTEN MAGUIRE STRANGLED EX-PARTNER IN DUNGANNON - NEARLY ESCAPES PRISON

Kristen Maguire, a 31-year-old man from Ladybrook Parade in Belfast, has been involved in a series of violent incidents against his former partner that took place in Dungannon. Despite the severity of his actions, he narrowly avoided a prison sentence after a court hearing at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court.

On March 31 of the previous year, Maguire was at the victim’s residence when he suddenly grabbed her by the throat, an act of physical assault that left her distressed and frightened. Following this, he proceeded to slap her and spit in her face, further demonstrating his aggressive behavior. The court was told that just a few weeks later, on April 21, the victim visited Maguire’s home to return a phone charger. During this visit, Maguire’s temper flared again when he accused her of breaking into his house. His rage escalated as he once more grabbed her by the throat and violently struck her head against the end of his bed, prompting her to contact the police for help.

Throughout the proceedings, Maguire initially denied involvement in these incidents, claiming he had no memory of what transpired. His defense lawyer described the relationship as “very short and clearly not positive,” highlighting the tumultuous nature of their interactions. District Judge Francis Rafferty expressed skepticism about Maguire’s claims of amnesia, questioning, “When interviewed everything was denied. Better than that he claimed he couldn’t remember anything. At what point did he suddenly have total recall?”

The court reviewed messages from Maguire that contained threats such as, “You ever do that again you will see a side of me you never seen before. I will f***ing blow and will break everything around me...” These messages cast doubt on his remorse and sincerity. The judge emphasized the dangerous and controlling nature of strangulation as a form of abuse, noting that such acts are often used to exert dominance over a partner.

Despite having no previous criminal record, the court described Maguire’s behavior as “disgraceful, cowardly, and the actions of a bully.” He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for three years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed another offense within that period. The judge issued a stern warning, stating, “If you raise your hand to another human being in the next three years you will be going to prison. Whatever face you present to the world, the court has seen your true face today and it’s an appalling vista.”