Courts / Wexford / Report

Fully suspended sentence for man who beat and verbally abused wife 'from first day' of marriage

Date
2024-07-29
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Enniscorthy
County
Wexford

Summary

A 70‑year‑old man, John Sheridan, was given a fully suspended sentence for assaulting his wife, Ann Sheridan, over a ten‑year marriage. Sheridan pleaded not guilty to four counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and three counts of assault causing harm, committed between 1994 and 2002. The court found that the abuse began with verbal insults from the first day of marriage and escalated to physical violence, including repeated hits with an open hand, a closed fist, and kicks with a steel‑capped boot. Sheridan admitted to hitting his wife but denied kicking her. He had no prior convictions. The judge, citing Sheridan's transfer of his interest in the family home to the victim, imposed a headline sentence of three years, reduced to 18 months, and suspended it entirely. Sheridan was also ordered to stay away from the victim and his children and to hand over his interest in the family home.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Fully suspended sentence for man who beat and verbally abused wife 'from first day' of marriage. Charges or matters: four counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and three counts of assault causing harm to Ann Sheridan (64) on dates between January 1, 1994 and June 30, 2002. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

Why: She said she stood sideways at the cooker because she was always being pushed into it. CNI source report

Case subjects

John Sheridan

Convicted Person

Charges: four counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and three counts of assault causing harm to Ann Sheridan (64) on dates between January 1, 1994 and June 30, 2002 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Photo: Collins) A 70-year-old man has been given a fully suspended sentence for beating and verbally abusing his wife "from the first day" of their 10-year marriage on the basis that he hand over his interest in the family home to her. She ordered that Sheridan hand over his interest in the family home to the victim and said it was on that basis she was giving him a suspended sentence.

Places mentioned

Residence
Court Venue
  • The Central Criminal Court

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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