Man jailed for beating his mother

A man who hit his mother up to nine times in the eye, face and body has been jailed for two years.

A judge at Londonderry Crown Court told Gerald McKinney, 25, it had been a cowardly and savage attack.

McKinney, from Abercorn Road in Derry, attacked his mother in her home in Ballymagroarty in February this year.

The court was told that the accused had a substantial criminal record for violence and he was on licence at the time of the attack.

He has been in custody since two days after the incident and could be released next February.

The court also heard the accused's mother is frightened of him and concerned he will re-offend.

During the short hearing on Monday, McKinney made several interruptions from the dock and was warned by Judge Phillip Babington he would be taken from the court if he did not keep quiet.