Larry Connors jailed for assaulting wife in Dublin

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

Larry Connors was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years. He was jailed on 8 December 2017. The proceedings were reported on 8 December 2017.

Connors had denied all charges but pleaded guilty to assault on the first day of his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The trial began in October 2017.

He admitted assaulting Margaret Connors, causing her harm, at Killinarden Way, Tallaght, on 31 March 2016. Further charges taken into consideration included producing a knife, threatening to kill her, damaging her property, stealing her phone and breaching two safety orders.

The court heard that on 30 March 2016 Connors entered his wife's house, pulled a knife on her, threatened to kill her and slashed her car tyres. He was arrested and released the following morning on condition that he stay away from her and her home.

Later on 31 March, he broke into her house again and forced her to drive him in her car before assaulting her in front of their children.

Judge Cormac Quinn refused his wife's request to defer the sentence until after Christmas, citing the seriousness of the case and the breaches of the safety orders. He gave Connors credit for his guilty plea, remorse, efforts to address his addictions and involvement in caring for his children.

The judge ordered Connors to keep the peace and be of good behaviour while in prison and for two years after his release.