Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail "inevitable" for ex-soldier who brutally beat former partner

Date
2016-11-11

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Melanie Greally ruled that a prison sentence was inevitable for Jonathan McSherry (34) after he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Jessica Bowes on 20 December 2015. Footage showed McSherry repeatedly punching and kicking Bowes, leaving her unconscious twice and causing fractures to her skull, eye sockets and cheekbone, as well as permanent scarring and nerve damage. Bowes, a mother of three, described the attack as merciless and said she feared she would die. She reported ongoing anxiety, nightmares and physical impairments, including difficulty closing her lips and memory loss. McSherry was remanded on continuing bail until 21 December to allow him to attend the Coolmine residential drug treatment programme. The court noted a prior barring order and that McSherry had two children with Bowes. The judge emphasised the severity of the assault and the injuries when stating that jail was inevitable.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail "inevitable" for ex-soldier who brutally beat former partner. Charges or matters: assault causing harm at Grange View Way, Clondalkin on December 20, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

December 20, 2015 Incident
December 21 Adjournment
2016-11-11 Publication

Case subjects

Jonathan McSherry

Defendant

Charges: assault causing harm at Grange View Way, Clondalkin on December 20, 2015 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: She said that a prison sentence was inevitable given the severity of the assault and of the injuries.; Judge Greally remanded McSherry on continuing bail until December 21 so he can continue his treatment at the Coolmine residential drug treatment programme.