A 38-year-old man from Lisburn appeared at Lisburn Magistrates Court on charges including harassment, criminal damage, threatening communications, and two counts of common assault.

The court heard that on March 10, 2026, police received a report that the man had sent abusive messages to his daughter while on bail with a no-contact condition.

Separately, on March 7, 2026, police responded to a report that the man had entered his sister's home, pushed her against a wall, thrown her mobile phone out a window, and damaged her hair straighteners.

The defendant told police he was an alcoholic using alcohol to cope with his brother's death and stated during the hearing that his life had a difficult start and he had been beset by addiction issues.

The defendant was accepted into an in-patient rehabilitation programme at Cuan Mhuire in Newry and told the court he wanted to change his behaviour.

District Judge Rosie Watters deferred sentencing until November 19, 2026, to allow the defendant to complete the programme and stay out of trouble.