Those charged this week included attempted robbery, non-fatal strangulation, child cruelty and drugs offences
Aaron Thomas Curragh(Image: PSNI)
Northern Ireland’s courts were busy this week, with people appearing to face a variety of charges.
Those charged this week included attempted robbery, non-fatal strangulation, child cruelty and drugs offences. A man was jailed after sending threatening online messages to the Deputy First Minister.
Here’s a breakdown of a number of cases heard at courts in Belfast from Monday June 16 to Friday June 20, 2025.
Belfast man strangled own granny while demanding money, court told
A Belfast man accused of assaulting and strangling his “vulnerable” grandmother whilst demanding she give him money was refused bail on Tuesday.
The application to release Bernard O’Neill from custody was made, and rejected, at Belfast Crown Court. From Cliftonville Courtyard, 22-year old O’Neill has been charged with three offences involving his grandmother – namely attempted robbery, non-fatal strangulation and common assault.
Belfast hotels thief jailed for ‘crime spree’
A Co Antrim man was handed a 12 month sentence on Tuesday over a crime spree which included burglaries at two hotels in Belfast.
James Joseph Black, 42, of Railway View, Glenavy, had previously pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to two counts of burglary and three counts of theft.
Judge Mark Reel told Black half the sentence would be spent in custody and the remainder on supervised licence following his release from prison.
Man who sent Emma Little Pengelly threatening messages jailed
An East Belfast man who sent threatening online messages to the Deputy First Minister and smashed the windows of a party colleague’s office was jailed on Wednesday.
Aaron Thomas Curragh(Image: PSNI)
Belfast Crown Court heard how the posts on Twitter left Emma Little-Pengelly so scared she considered moving from her home. Aaron Thomas Curragh, 34, from Whincroft Road, was handed a 31 month sentence and he was told by Judge Gordon Kerr KC that he will spend half in custody and half on licence following his release from prison.
Couple who left kids in house with drug laced sweets sentenced
A couple who left two young children in a house filled with sweets and chocolate laced with cannabis were sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on Friday.
As the case involves cruelty to children, neither defendants can be named to protect the identity of the youngsters. The 38-year old male defendant pleaded guilty to three drugs charges and possessing criminal property amounting to £25,000.
He was handed a four-year sentence which was divided equally between prison and licence. His 33-year old partner admitted two counts of child cruelty and one drugs offence and was made the subject of a two-year Probation Order.
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