Courts / Kerry / Report
Substitute PE teacher jailed for assaulting his ex-girlfriend in school car park
Summary
In a 2015 Central Criminal Court hearing, David Henry, 28, was convicted of assault causing harm after he beat his ex‑girlfriend, Evangeline O'Neill, in a school car park in Tralee on 17 June 2012. O'Neill, aged 22 at the time, described being straddled, punched and slapped, suffering black eyes and jaw soreness. Henry pleaded not guilty; a jury found him guilty by a 10‑to‑1 majority. Judge Patrick McCarthy imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the last 18 months on condition of peace, and back‑dated it to 28 January when Henry entered custody. The deputy principal of St. Oliver's Community College, Una Kirk, testified as a character witness, noting Henry's professional conduct as a substitute PE teacher. O'Neill's victim impact statement highlighted lasting trauma, and Garda Aidan Carey recounted the abusive texts and events leading to the assault. Henry admitted using excessive force and expressed contrition, which the judge acknowledged in his sentencing remarks.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Substitute PE teacher jailed for assaulting his ex-girlfriend in school car park. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- June 17, 2012 Incident
- January 28 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-03-23 Publication
Why: She had black eyes the next day and was unable to eat because of soreness in her jaw, she said. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Mr Leahy's house
Topics
Related court reports
- Fraud accused Denise O'Brien appears before court after bench warrant
- Almost 200 witnesses involved in Mike Gaine murder case as trial date set
- Murderer's claim that conviction was unsafe after 'extremely brief' jury deliberations is rejected
- One of six family members convicted of Tralee cemetery murder fails in bid to overturn conviction
- 'Honour killing' convict was misidentified at trial, lawyers claim
- Three jailed for 'honour killing' at Kerry funeral appeal convictions
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request