Former garda jailed for 20 months over attack and threats against partner

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

Ian Gillen was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Jennifer Clinton and assaulting her at a home in Monkstown on 23 December 2021. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four-year sentence, suspending the final 28 months on strict conditions in light of mitigation and the tragedy in Gillen’s life.

The court heard that Gillen punched Clinton three times on the head and threatened her during the incident. She escaped after recording 40 minutes of threats on her phone; the recording could not be played in court, and a transcript was given to the judge.

The court heard that Gillen had no previous convictions and had retired from the Garda on medical grounds. Evidence described how his mental health deteriorated after he was the first responder when his son died by suicide in his early 20s.