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Carlow Father and Son Sentenced for Assault During Stillborn Child's Wake
Summary
A Carlow father and son, Michael Slater Senior (61) and Michael Slater Junior (36), have been sentenced for multiple assault charges. Both pleaded guilty to three charges of assault causing harm to three victims at Heatherhill Square on August 28, 2024. Slater Jnr further pleaded guilty to producing a wooden bat and issuing threats to his partner and her sister, and to assault causing harm to his partner on October 21, 2024. Slater Snr received a six-month suspended sentence for an earlier assault, which was backdated to when he was first remanded in custody last November. Judge Eugene O'Kelly imposed a three-year suspended sentence on Slater Snr, taking into account his guilty plea and troubled background. For Slater Jnr, Judge O'Kelly set a headline sentence of four and a half years and a concurrent term of three years and nine months, which was suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was backdated to when Slater Jnr was first remanded in custody last November. The matter was adjourned for the submission of victim impact statements, but none were provided. Both Slaters were described as having a history of violent tendencies, with Slater Jnr having previous convictions for assault causing harm and serious harm. The court heard that the assaults occurred during the wake of Slater Jnr's stillborn child, with the second assault involving the use of a weapon and resulting in the victim requiring surgery to repair a broken jaw. The sentences were described as consecutive, leading to a total of ten and a half years for Slater Jnr, with the final four years suspended on strict conditions.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Carlow Father and Son Sentenced for Assault During Stillborn Child's Wake. Charges or matters: three charges of assault causing harm to the three victims at Heatherhill Square on August 28, 2024; production of a wooden bat and issuing threats to both his partner and her sister; assault causing harm to his partner on October 21, 2024. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 28, 2024 Incident
- October 21, 2024 Incident
- August 2024 Adjournment
- 2025-11-14 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: three charges of assault causing harm to the three victims at Heatherhill Square on August 28, 2024; production of a wooden bat and issuing threats to both his partner and her sister; assault causing harm to his partner on October 21, 2024 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He received a six month suspended sentence for that assault. He imposed a sentence of four and half years and a concurrent term of three years and nine months having taken his guilty plea and "a chaotic dysfunctional and violent childhood" into account.; The sentence was backdated to when Slater Jnr was first remanded in custody last November.
Places mentioned
- Heatherhill Square
- Carlow
- Carlow
- Carlow Circuit Criminal Court
- High Court
- Heatherhill Square
Topics
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