North Belfast man with 73 convictions charged over assaulting woman in domestic incident gets bail

North Belfast man with 73 convictions charged over assaulting woman in domestic incident gets bail A Crown barrister revealed the accused has 73 previous convictions which she said included offences of domestic violence. Ashleigh Mcdonald 13:24, 31 Jul 2026 Updated 13:35, 31 Jul 2026 A 30-year old man with 73 convictions was granted bail today as he awaits sentencing for domestic-related offences . Gerard Mark Clarke appeared at Belfast Crown Court via a videolink with HMP Maghaberry. Before the bail application was launched, Clarke's barrister Declan Quinn asked that his client be re-arraigned on four charges which he initially denied. With an address of 'no fixed abode' on the court papers, Clarke was then charged with four offences dating back to January 10, 2025. He was charged with assaulting a female and occasioning her actual bodily harm and when asked how he pleaded, Clarke replied "not guilty to AOABH but guilty to common assault." He was also charged with, and pleaded guilty to, breaching a restraining order in relation to the same female. Both charges were aggravated by reason of involving domestic abuse. In addition, Clarke entered guilty pleas to the common assault of a second female and damaging her iPhone. Following this, a Crown barrister said all the pleas were accepted and charges of non-fatal strangulation and making threats to kill were being 'left on the books'. Mr Quinn then addressed Judge Patrick Lynch KC and said that the pleas to four charges and two being left on the books represented a "significant change in circumstances." Pointing out that the charges admitted by his client carried a maximum sentence of two years, the defence barrister said that as Clarke has already spent 13 months in custody "arguably his time is served." Opposing bail, a Crown barrister revealed Clarke has 73 previous convictions which she said included offences of domestic violence. Saying Clarke had a "dreadful history of absconding whilst on bail", the prosecutor said the "best chance" of Clarke attending his sentence hearing would be for him to remain in custody. Mr Quinn said that during a consultation with Clarke, he told his client that due to time served and the charges he is now to be sentenced for it would be "extremely foolish in any shape or form to breach bail." After listening to submissions from both the Crown and defence, Judge Lynch said due to the circumstances he was granting the application for bail. The conditions include Clarke living with his father in north Belfast, reporting to police three times a week and having no direct or indirect contact with either of the women he assaulted last January. Article continues below Addressing Clarke on the videolink, Judge Lynch told him: "If you breach any of those terms of bail, you are liable to be brought back before the court and you will have to spend the rest of the time in custody until such time as your case is disposed of." Clarke was told to return to court for sentencing on September 2. For all the latest news, visit the homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.