Australian man Drew Donal Ireland in Bali accused of punching his girlfriend and storing weapons

An Australian man who was allegedly caught with a cache of weapons after being accused of hitting his girlfriend in Bali is facing the possibility of several years in an Indonesian jail.

Perth man Drew Donal Ireland, 28, was led to a press conference in handcuffs on Tuesday following his arrest near the Kedin’s Inn in Kuta on Sunday.

Police allege Ireland had pushed his 33-year-old Indonesian girlfriend to the ground and punched her head at about 6.30pm during a dispute over 1,500,000 rupia ($150AUD) she supposedly owed him.

The woman also allegedly sustained other minor injuries to her face and body, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Officers allege Ireland tried to flee from arrest when confronted outside the hotel but only made it 500m before he was caught. 

Ireland was allegedly agitated and violently resisted arrest once back at the police station, damaging chairs and a table in the struggle.

Following the dramatic arrest, officers searched Ireland’s hotel room and allegedly found a collection of weapons including three long-barrelled air rifles, two air pistols, two knives and two iron sticks.

While it is not illegal to own the air guns and other weapons, officers said they are still investigating why Ireland was in possession of them. 

Denpasar police chief Bambang Yugo Pamungkas said investigators also uncovered Ireland had allegedly told his girlfriend he was part of the Australian Defence Force, which is false.

Bali police said they searched Ireland’s room following his arrest on Sunday and allegedly discovered a cache of air guns and knives (pictured, Ireland being led to a press conference on Tuesday)

‘He claimed to be a member of the Australian special forces, that he is here training an Indonesian sniper team,’ Pamungkas told reporters on Tuesday.

‘He met the (alleged) victim five weeks ago on Tinder. Their status is that they are in a relationship. When we checked with the (Australian) consulate the information we were given is that he is a technician, in the private sector. 

‘He presented himself like he is in the special forces but he wasn’t. We still don’t know why he has all these weapons.’

Kuta police chief Yogie Pramagita said the 33-year-old woman claimed he was drinking on the night she was allegedly attacked. 

‘He was drunk, so when we tried to detain him at the police station he refused and some of the police (chairs and table were damaged). No officers were hurt,’ Pramagita alleged.

Kuta police chief Yogie Pramagita said the 33-year-old woman claimed Ireland (pictured in handcuffs) was drinking on the night she was allegedly attacked

‘He has been refusing to be interrogated. He insisted on having someone from the consulate to be here first.’ 

Ireland has been charged under Article 351 of the Indonesian Criminal Code and is potentially facing a maximum of two years and eight months in jail.

An Indonesian immigration official said Ireland’s Indonesian visa is due to expire on June 11 following his arrival in April.