Eamonn Magee gets 12 months for assault

Belfast's former Commonwealth champion Eamonn Magee has been jailed for 12 months for an assault on his ex-partner.

Belfast Magistrates Court heard that the 38-year-old, well known to fight fans for his heart in the ring and irrational behaviour out of it, grabbed the woman by her hair and tried to throw her down a flight of stairs.

He was given the maximum sentence for the offence.  However, the man who went by the ring moniker 'The Terminator' has not yet had his freedom terminated - he was released on bail as he intends to appeal.

Magee was ordered to stay at an address in Hull pending the appeal, though it's not thought that this is part of the punishment.

He was banned from any contact with the victim and also banned from taking alcohol. Given Magee's history, the latter could prove somewhat challenging.

Maria Magill, the victim, had been in a relationship with Magee for six years. She said the pair had been drinking after attending a concert in September, after which Magee attacked her. In her evidence to Belfast Magistrates Court, Ms Magill said they returned to a flat where Magee asked her to get into bed and then demanded to see her mobile phone to check if another man had been contacting her.

She claimed he grabbed her by the hair, slapped her and trailed out of the room before attempting to throw her down a flight of stairs.