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Man with 82 previous convictions jailed for attack on wife

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John McDonagh, aged 38, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for assault causing harm to his wife on 20 March 2020. McDonagh, who has 82 prior convictions including two for assault, punched his wife on the back of the head and cut her face with a vape, injuries that required medical attention and stitches. Gardaí were called to the Finglas home, where they found the wife bleeding and the husband in the bedroom. McDonagh pleaded guilty, citing a late guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors, while the judge noted aggravating factors such as the intimate partner context and his extensive criminal record. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody. The wife withdrew her statement and complaint after the incident. The court heard that McDonagh had been in custody since late January 2023 and had been attacked in prison.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man with 82 previous convictions jailed for attack on wife. Charges or matters: assault causing harm at Barry Park, Finglas, Dublin 11, on that date. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• March 20, 2020 Incident
• May 8 2020 Incident
• January 2023 Incident
• 2023-05-19 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report