Man (40) brutally assaulted partner during cocaine-fuelled night in Louth caravan park

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A man found guilty by a jury of seriously assaulting his then partner in a North Louth caravan park has been jailed for 18 months.

Eamon Meehan (40), Herbert Street, Belfast, did not accept the jury’s verdict, a sentence hearing at Dundalk Circuit Court has been told.

Last May a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on a charge of assault causing harm at Maguire’s Caravan Park, Omeath, on April 10, 2022.

During an alcohol – and drugs – fuelled incident, the defendant repeatedly banged the victim’s head. She described an “horrific ordeal”.

Mr Meehan’s counsel said that he was an industrious man, determined to rebuild his life.

Det Sgt John Brady said that on April 9, 2022, the couple and their child travelled together to Omeath to stay in the defendant’s caravan.

The adults were drinking and taking cocaine throughout the night. An argument broke out at 7.30am the next morning and when the woman went to leave he grabbed her and repeatedly banged her head against a piece of furniture.

Mr Meehan stopped when he realised the extent of her injuries. There was blood. He believed she had been knocked out.

He drove the victim and their child to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry. Once there, she told him to leave with the child because she didn’t want social services involved.

The victim told doctors that she had fallen. She had lacerations above and below an eye, a black eye and bruising, and required eight stitches.

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The PSNI was ultimately alerted and they contacted gardaí to check out the caravan.

On March 29, 2023, the accused attended Dundalk Garda Station by arrangement. He told investigators that his partner had made threats and that he was terrified of her.

He has seven previous convictions, none for violence, and is the father of two children, one from another relationship. He is a carer for his eldest child.

In her Victim Impact Statement which was read to the court, the woman said she was the survivor of an “horrific ordeal” having been brutally assaulted.

The physical pain was only the beginning.

"He callously shifted the blame onto me and spread rumours.”

She said that he had damaged her relationships and reputation.

The jury’s verdict vindicated her. She thanked the judge and jury.

Cross-examined by barrister Pearse Collins, Det Sgt Brady said that this was an alcohol and drugs fuelled assault.

Mr Collins said his client voluntarily did a domestic violence programme and another promoting positive relations.

The incident was not pre-planned, and neither was there an ongoing threat.

An industrious man, a probation report highlighted the defendant’s commitment to his children.

Judge Dara Hayes remarked that this was serious offending, intimate partner violence.

A child was in the caravan. There was no evidence to suggest they saw or heard the incident.

The victim said that her physical scars were a constant reminder.

A two-year, nine-month sentence was imposed, the final 15 months suspended, and backdated to June 3, 2025.

The court noted the impact a sentence would have on Mr Meehan’s teenage son.