Courts / Kilkenny / Report
Convicted murderer sentenced for assault in which he threatened to slit woman's throat
Summary
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Tadgh Butler, 34, known as Thomas O'Grady, pleaded guilty to assaulting Joanna Walsh on 30 April 2011 at St Patrick's Close, Kilkenny. Butler, a convicted murderer of Michael O'Dwyer, had 45 prior convictions. He broke a wine bottle, swung it at Walsh's face, and threatened to slit her throat. Walsh raised her arms to protect herself, later noticing blood on her arm. She asked Butler for an ambulance, but he refused, claiming he would be arrested. He was drunk and aggressive towards Walsh's family before being arrested. The DPP originally charged him with assault causing harm (maximum five years), but the State accepted a plea to common assault (maximum six months). The court imposed a four‑month sentence, to run concurrently with his life sentence for murder. The case was transferred from Kilkenny to Dublin due to publicity surrounding the murder charge.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Convicted murderer sentenced for assault in which he threatened to slit woman's throat. Charges or matters: the assault of Joanna Walsh at St Patrick's Close, Kilkenny on April 30, 2011. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- January 2014 Incident
- April 30, 2011 Incident
- 2015-11-13 Publication
Why: The assault case was transferred from Kilkenny to Dublin because of the adverse publicity surrounding the murder charge. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: the assault of Joanna Walsh at St Patrick's Close, Kilkenny on April 30, 2011 (Proven)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; The DPP originally charged Butler with an offence of assault causing harm, which comes with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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