David Swords given suspended sentence for assault

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

David Swords received a fully suspended three-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty. The proceedings were reported on 22 October 2019.

The assault happened in Glasthule on 21 June 2017, when Swords punched Jessica Walsh in the face multiple times. Judge Martin Nolan described it as unprovoked, sudden and vicious, while noting Swords’s guilty plea, co-operation, lack of previous convictions and steps to address his temper.

The sentence was suspended in full on strict conditions, including that Swords collect €12,500 within 18 months for the injured party. The court would dispose of the money if she did not wish to accept it. Defence counsel accepted the assault was vicious and said Swords had shown remorse and attended weekly anger-management and domestic-abuse courses.