‘Acting in the interest of my children’: Donegal man charged with breaching order
A Donegal man charged with breaching a safety order told Gardai that he was concerned for the welfare of his children.
The man, who is in his 40s and cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before a District Court in Donegal.
The man presented himself to a Garda Station and was arrested before being charged with contravening an order, an offence contrary to section 33 (1) of the Domestic Violence Act, 2018.
The charge related to a communication from the accused man to a woman, who was the applicant for the order.
When charged and cautioned, the man told Gardai: “That text was sent in relation to the interest and welfare of my children after being told by my 10-year-old crying son that he has to move out of his home because his mum told him that she couldn’t pay the bills, which is inappropriate to tell a 10-year-old.
“I haven’t been consulted that any of this was happening so I text her in relation to the matter in the interest of the children, which I am entitled to do as stated in the order - and I don’t feel I was in breach of the order.”
Gardai told the court that there were no objections to bail, but sought a condition that the man obey by the terms of the order.
The case was adjourned to December.
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