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Woman fears abusive ex-partner's 'next victim may not survive', court hears
Summary
Dubliner Michael Mooney (41) was sentenced to six years' imprisonment today by Judge Roderick Maguire for harassment between June 26, 2024, and January 18, 2025. Mooney pleaded guilty to the charges and admitted to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm on January 15, 2025. The judge described Mooney's actions as 'pernicious offences that left a trail of devastation in his wake' in relation to his ex-partner Nicola Sweetman. Ms Sweetman, who is not a convicted person, alleged that Mooney harassed her during the specified period. The court heard that Mooney placed a complex tracking device on Ms Sweetman's car and sent her threatening texts, including messages about harming her family members and others. Ms Sweetman testified that she lived in constant fear and was terrified of Mooney's threats. She stated that she avoided stopping her car anywhere without lighting or cameras for fear of being seriously harmed. Mooney, who has 62 previous convictions, including multiple threats to kill and breaching barring orders, was noted by the judge to have limited insight into his offending. The judge set a headline sentence of seven-and-a-half years, which was reduced to six years, taking mitigating factors into account. The sentence will start from today, reducing Mooney's time in custody for a previous threat to kill sentence. The matter was not adjourned and is now at the validated procedural stage of sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman fears abusive ex-partner's 'next victim may not survive', court hears. Charges or matters: harassment between June 26, 2024 and January 18, 2025. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 26, 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 18, 2025 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 15, 2025 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 17, 2025 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018 and 2006 Other
- 2026-05-08 Publication
Why: She said Mooney chose to "destroy our lives" because she left him. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: harassment between June 26, 2024 and January 18, 2025 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Dubliner Michael Mooney (41) engaged in "pernicious offences that left a trail of devastation in his wake" in relation to his ex-partner Nicola Sweetman, Judge Roderick Maguire said as he sentenced him to six years' imprisonment today. Even though Mooney is currently in custody, serving a 15-month sentence for a previous threat to kill, the judge noted Ms Sweetman still fears he will get someone to harm her, as he has previously threatened to do.
Convicted Person
Charges: harassment between June 26, 2024 and January 18, 2025 (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Dubliner Michael Mooney (41) engaged in "pernicious offences that left a trail of devastation in his wake" in relation to his ex-partner Nicola Sweetman, Judge Roderick Maguire said as he sentenced him to six years' imprisonment today. Passing down sentence today, Judge Roderick Maguire said the trauma inflicted on Ms Sweetman was deeper and longer-lasting, given that it occurred in the wake of an intimate relationship.
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