By Tony O’Reilly-
A man previously convicted of rape has appeared at Derry Magistrates’ Court charged with making a threat to kill his sister.
Joseph Healy (38) of Hollymount Park in Derry(images) faced one charge of making a threat to kill his sister on December 29. A police officer connected the accused to the charge and said that police were not opposed to bail but as yet there was no suitable address.
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The court heard that when his sister came to Healy’s address there was an altercation between them and he was alleged to have told her ‘I will cut you into pieces and bury you’.
A police officer stated the victim was “terrified” and believed Healy was capable of carrying out the threat.
Defense Argument
Healy’s defense solicitor, Derwin Harvey, contested the level of fear, noting that the sister followed Healy upstairs to continue the argument after the alleged threat.
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Healy was granted bail of £500 on January 1, 2026, on the condition that he has no contact with the victim and stays away from Hollymount Park. His mother had previously withdrawn his home as a bail address following the incident.
At the time of the 2025 threat, Healy was on licence after serving a 12-year sentence for a series of violent sexual offenses.
In November 2016, Healy was sentenced at Londonderry Crown Court for the prolonged abuse of his 20-year-old partner, which occurred in 2013 while she was eight months pregnant.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and six counts of assault.
The judge described the case as containing some of the “most terrible and concerning sexual offending” seen by the court. Details included:
While on residential care release for the partner’s abuse, he also assaulted the victim’s mother, for which he received a separate 18-month sentence in 2015.
Healy remains on the Sex Offenders’ Register and is subject to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order. He is scheduled to return to court regarding the latest threat charge on January 26, 2026.
Defence solicitor Derwin Harvey said that the woman had gone to Healy’s address and challenged him.
He said after Healy was alleged to have made the threats his sister followed him upstairs and continued to argue which Mr Harvey said was hardly the actions of someone in fear.
Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes said that in this case an address was definitely needed as the defendant was on licence after serving a 12 year sentence for rape.
He released the defendant to an address approved by the PSNI on condition he has no contact with the alleged injured party nor does he enter Hollymount Park.
He will appear again on January 26.
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