Courts / Louth / Report

'You're going to die tonight': retired garda jailed for attacking and threatening to kill partner

Date
2025-07-11

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Blackrock

County
Louth

Summary

Ian Gillen, a retired Garda and former international bowler, was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final 28 months suspended, for threatening to kill and assaulting his partner Jennifer Clinton on 23 December 2021. The court heard that Gillen's mental health deteriorated after he was the first responder to his son's suicide in his early 20s, leading to increased alcohol use and anger. Clinton recorded 40 minutes of the assault, during which Gillen repeatedly threatened her life and physically struck her. She later escaped and provided a victim impact statement describing lasting PTSD, anxiety and depression. Gillen pleaded guilty, accepted responsibility, and had no prior convictions. The judge noted his long service as a Garda, the tragic loss of his son, and his cooperation as mitigating factors, resulting in the suspended portion of the sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'You're going to die tonight': retired garda jailed for attacking and threatening to kill partner. Charges or matters: threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Jennifer Clinton on December 23, 2021, at Trafalgar Lane, Monkstown, and to assaulting Ms Clinton on the same occasion. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

December 23, 2021 Adjournment
2025-07-11 Publication

Why: At one point, Gillen mockingly suggested that she ring Blackrock Garda Station, insinuating that nobody would help her if she did, because he was a serving garda. CNI source report

Case subjects

Ian Gillen

Convicted Person

Charges: threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Jennifer Clinton on December 23, 2021, at Trafalgar Lane, Monkstown, and to assaulting Ms Clinton on the same occasion (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He imposed a prison sentence of four years, with the final 28 months suspended on strict conditions due to the substantial mitigation and the tragedy in Gillen's life. Judge Nolan sentenced Gillen to four years in prison, but due to the substantial mitigation and the tragedy in the defendant's life, he suspended the final 28 months for 28 months.; After hearing facts in the case yesterday, Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case overnight.