Case of attempted murder during alleged machete attack to move to crown court

A CASE of what was described in court as a “savage attack” with a machete is to transfer to crown court for trial.

Forty-four-year-old Martin Joseph Groogan from Gortin Crescent, Dungannon, but remanded in custody since his arrest, is charged with attempting to murder his ex-partner and possessing a knife.

Offending is alleged to have occurred on 1 November 1, 2025, in Dungannon and is aggravated by domestic violence.

A detective constable from the PSNI Public Protection Unit previously explained police received a dropped 999 call in which a woman could be heard stating: “what am I going to say?”

Another person not at the scene called an ambulance and paramedics in turn contacted Groogan who was told to administer first aid. He was noted to be highly intoxicated and alleged foreign nationals had broken into the woman’s house and attacked her.

The injured woman was identified and police discovered her bleeding heavily from various wounds, but particularly from a severe injury to her leg.

Officers applied a tourniquet to her leg and carried out first aid on her other wounds including a slice wounds to her stomach and both legs.

An Air Ambulance arrived and following assessment police were told the tourniquet had ultimately saved the woman’s life. Enquiries revealed Groogan had fled the scene and taken a taxi to a house in Armagh, where another police crew observed him enter. He was discovered hiding in the roof space and arrested.

The injured party was later spoken to in hospital and gave a verbal account that she had asked Groogan to leave her house but he refused. “She states he just flipped and grabbed the knife and slashed her”, said the detective.

She knew she was bleeding heavily and while she lay on the floor begging him to call an ambulance, he threatened to do it again.

The detective advised the woman underwent surgery and will have to be transferred to another hospital for plastic surgery.

Meanwhile, a blood-stained machete was found in a cupboard in the woman’s home. Groogan claimed to have been asleep on the sofa when three Black males entered the house and attacked the woman, but he refused to give any further details.

Due to what accounted he panicked and left the property. He repeated this in a follow-up interview then reverted to ‘no comment’ replies. He did not confirm if he had called an ambulance and asked officers if the woman was sober when she spoke to police.

Objecting to bail, the detective said Groogan has an extensive criminal record of 138 previous convictions which include serious violence.

In addition, a suggested address for release in Armagh is not suitable as the occupant is “flagged as violent with a significant history including attacks against children and vulnerable adults as well as the use of weapons”.

He also has a conviction for an offence against a 13-year-old female and is currently on bail for a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Defence counsel accepted the application was very difficult but pointed out Groogan suffers from “significant trauma stemming from paramilitary threats a number of years ago”.

He maintained his innocence in the current matter and that the attack was carried out by three males. Bail was refused and Groogan has remained in custody ever since.

At the most recent sitting of Dungannon Magistrates Court a prosecuting lawyer advised senior counsel has reviewed the case and the matter is proceeding on indictment.

District Judge Francis Rafferty listed a committal hearing to take place on November 18 when Groogan is expected to be returned for trial.