The chief executive of one of the north’s leading councils is alleged to have confronted her elderly father alongside two of her siblings in a bid to force him to sign over ownership of his property, a court has heard.
The claim was made about Mid and East Antrim Chief Executive Anne Donaghy by her father during a court hearing yesterday.
Ms Donaghy made no comment when contacted yesterday.
John ‘Johnny’ Fee was giving evidence against his son-in-law James Anthony (Tony) McBride (52), of Ballybeg Road, Coalisland, Co Tyrone, who was found guilty of assault and threatening to “put a bullet behind his ear”.
A judge at Dungannon Magistrates Court heard the incident was grounded on a family feud over property, and a previous confrontation with the victim’s son and two daughters, when he claims they recorded, left him “pressurised, intimidated and bullied”.
McBride denied the charges although he accepted a confrontation took place and maintained the victim was not knocked to the ground by a punch but instead was slapped and fell down “like a drama queen.”
Mr Fee - a popular figure in the vintage vehicle scene - explained he knew McBride not only as a son-in-law as husband of his daughter Geraldine, but also through horse racing.
Mr Fee said there had been ongoing difficulties caused by his grown-up children in relation to him signing over his house and land, and McBride was part of this on behalf of his wife.
She was terminally ill at the time and passed away the following month.
He recalled standing at his front gates on February 13, chatting to a man who was carrying out repairs to a trailer for him.
McBride arrived on the scene “very angry and aggressive”, and proceeded to punch him in the face, knocking him to the ground.
Remarks were made to the victim that he would not be getting to his see his now very ill daughter, nor would he be permitted to attend her wake or funeral when the time came.
He also shouted comments about Mr Fee relinquishing his property, warning “You will sign it over.”
Mr Fee said whilst lying on the ground, he was grabbed by the hair and dragged across the street, after which McBride shouted at him, “You b*****d, you. I’ll put a bullet behind your ear.”
This left the victim terrified he would be murdered. He said, “I’m a pensioner and I live alone. I was very afraid. I had to stay will friends for the next two weeks and after that made sure I wasn’t left alone. I was afraid he (McBride) would come back and murder me.”
Under cross-examination, Mr Fee agreed there have been tensions within his family and recalled an incident the previous week.
He said: “Three of my children, my son Michael and two daughters Anne and Kathleen all landed down at my house one night and put pressure on me to sign over my property. They recorded me. They intimidated and bullied me that night.”
It was put to Mr Fee he had made promises to all his children that he would give them property, and this involved signing over his house and land over.
The defendant claimed most of Mr Fee’s grown up children want nothing to do with him because, “He promised XYZ but hasn’t given anything. He promised my wife land on her wedding day but it never came.”
With the evidence concluded, District Judge John Meehan immediately ruled, convicting McBride on all matters.
Adjourning for pre-sentence reports, he commented, “I have no doubt the defendant gave dishonest evidence. There is no question this was a mere slap and the victim just lay down. He (McBride) came to the scene with the intention of being the aggressor. I have no doubt what the victim told this court, did occur.”
McBride is to return for sentencing on October 18.
