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'I never knew what fear was until I encountered this': woman tells court of ex's repeated breaches of safety order
Summary
An unnamed man in his 50s was sentenced at Dún Laoghaire District Court after being convicted of breaching a safety order. The defendant had pleaded not guilty to two counts of breaching a safety order under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018, alleged to have occurred on 13 and 19 September 2024. Judge Conor Fottrell found the charges proven, describing the incidents as clear breaches of court-imposed restrictions. The man was prohibited from attending his former partner's home under a three-year safety order granted in May 2023, which limited contact to email for child access matters. The complainant told the court that the man appeared at her property twice within a week, causing her to live in constant fear and lose trust in the legal system. Although the accused claimed he believed he had permission to attend on 13 September to drop off money, no email authorizing this was produced to the court. The judge noted the order's terms were unambiguous and found the woman's evidence credible. The defendant received a two-month suspended sentence, suspended for 12 months, on the condition that he stay away from the woman's home and fully comply with the safety order.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'I never knew what fear was until I encountered this': woman tells court of ex's repeated breaches of safety order. Charges or matters: breaching the order. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- May 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- 19 September 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
- 13 September 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
- 19 September Hearing Or Sentence
- 13 September Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-07-03 Publication
Why: It makes me lose trust in the legal system because I had a safety order in place – and he still showed up. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: breaching the order (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; The defendant received a two-month suspended sentence after he was convicted of breaching the order. No one should have to live in fear." The man was sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for 12 months, on condition he stay away from the woman's home and fully comply with the safety order.
Places mentioned
- The District Court
- Dún Laoghaire District Court
Topics
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