Louth mother reveals life of hell caused by her ‘madman’ drug addict son
The Drogheda IndependentA mother has detailed 10 years of abuse at the hands of her drug addict son which resulted in her losing all of her savings to pay his debts.
In a Victim Impact Statement for a sentence hearing she told of strangers banging on the door looking for the money he owed.
The 26-year-old man was before Dundalk Circuit Court after pleading guilty to assault causing harm, demanding money with menaces and two counts of criminal damage.
Sending him to jail for two years and nine months, Judge Dara Hayes said he had treated his mother “abominably”.
The defendant began using drugs at 13 and a report said that he prioritised drugs in life.
After a series of offending last November during which he was described as a “madman” and “out of control”, Gardaí nabbed him at a homecoming parade for Drogheda United following the club’s win in the FAI Cup Final.
Gda Stephanie Caffrey testified that at 5.20am on November 3, 2024, she was alerted to a breach of a domestic order.
At the address she spoke to the defendant’s mother who said he had threatened her to let him stay.
It was a week she described as “hell”. He produced a hammer and threatened to kill her if his girlfriend left the house.
He chased her down the stairs. She didn’t know how she got away. In the kitchen the man smashed a TV before running away.
Five days later at 9.40am they were in the carpark at Lidl, Donore Road. He asked for €200 that he owed. His mother said she would pay the person herself.
He threw his Mum to the ground and pulled her along, trying to get her handbag. He kicked her on the ground. A group of men tried to intervene.
Later the same day he put in a window at his grandmother's house. An aunt identified him.
Gda Caffrey continued that at 2.30am on November 10, the defendant woke his mother by kicking the door in.
She was very afraid. He was roaring at her. She pleaded with him not to do anything. She said she would get him money.
He gave her half an hour to get €250. To try to calm him down and to get away, the woman said she would have to go to the bank. He ran out, taking her phone. She went to a neighbour’s house.
Gda Caffrey said the man was spotted the next day at the homecoming of the Drogheda United team and arrested. He has been in custody since.
He told Gardaí he had little recollection of what happened. He accepted he was at Lidl.
There were 20 previous convictions, including for breaches of Domestic Violence Act orders, criminal damage and assault.
In a Victim Impact Statement which was read out on her behalf, the woman said that for the last 10 years she had been “abused and controlled” by her son, physically and emotionally.
Strangers would bang on the door looking for money he owed them.
"I lost all my savings to pay bills he owed.”
It never stopped. This was her life for years, but last November was the worst.
"He was like a madman and out of control. I was so scared, afraid he was going to kill me, he was so out of his mind on drugs.”
The woman continued that she thought about her son every day.
“I don’t hate him. I hate that he let drugs ruin both our lives.
"Hopefully he changes for real. He has no one but me.”
She continued that he rings her from prison. She took the calls to give him hope.
Barrister Donough McDonough, instructed by solicitor Fergal Boyle, said that the man had written a letter of apology.
There was a prison governor’s report and a “mixed” probation report.
The defendant had been on cocaine, benzodiazepine and alcohol. He grew up in Drogheda and began using drugs at 13. He had prioritised drugs in life.
He had enhanced status in jail where he attended school and Narcotics Anonymous. It was his longest period of sobriety.
Judge Hayes said that the court was taking into consideration other charges concerning threatening messages, threats to kill, production of a weapon, attempted robbery and burglary.
He said that the defendant treated his mother abominably and made her life hell. She resorted to barring orders. In all 20 previous convictions she was the victim.
A total sentence of five years and nine months was imposed, the final three years conditionally suspended for three years, and backdated to November 11, 2024.
One of the conditions is that the man treats his mother with respect.