A man who claimed his ex-partner was trying to break up his parents' marriage before assaulting her has been given a five-month prison sentence.

It was heard at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday, October 17, how the incident occurred following a visit by the victim and her ex-partner to his parents' house on April 3.

Ciaran Cassidy (37), with an address of Bruscarnagh Road, Rosslea, and his ex-partner were visiting his parents. When leaving the house, Cassidy was waiting in the car and revved the engine angrily.

When travelling home, he became verbally abusive, calling her a "disgusting tramp" and "slut", the court heard.

He claimed she was trying to break up his parents' marriage with "inappropriate touching" of his father. Cassidy then punched the steering wheel, and said: "Do you know who I am? I'll show you who I am."

The victim then tried to get out of the car and run away, but was chased down and dragged back to the car.

At another stage, when Cassidy slowed down to light a cigarette, the injured party got out of the moving vehicle and ran to a nearby property for help.

Cassidy grabbed her by the neck and she screamed in fear, before the defendant left her. Cassidy was later arrested for common assault.

The injured party gave a statement documenting the deterioration of the relationship, and detailed how there was an escalation in physical and psychological abuse.

Cassidy denied the charges and said she did not jump out of the car.

His barrister, Michael Ward, told the court the pair had been in a relationship for eight months and up until that point, there had been no suggestion of physical violence.

He pointed out that the injured party had consumed alcohol at the parents’ house and a verbal altercation had taken place, but during previous questioning, the injured party made no allegations of serious violence.

Mr. Ward described the relationship between the pair as "on-off", and one with a "complicated" background.

He said over the past number of months, the injured party had contacted Cassidy, which resulted in the defendant spending time in custody for breach of bail.

Mr. Ward said there was no evidence of domestic violence in previous relationships Cassidy was in, and that he and the injured party had "not gelled", with the relationship "being bad for both parties".

However, District Judge Steven Keown made it clear that the court did not accept any suggestion the injured party and defendant's experiences were equated in the relationship.

He pointed out the seriousness with which the court takes domestic abuse.

For two counts of common assault, and a single domestic abuse offence, Cassidy was sentenced to five months in prison.