Wicklow man jailed for assaulting former partner and breaching safety order
The Wicklow PeopleA Wicklow man who breached a safety order and assaulted his former partner, after confronting her near their child’s school in 2022, has been sentenced to one year in prison, with a further 18 months suspended.
The man, aged in his 30s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at Wicklow Circuit Court to assault causing harm and breaching a safety order against his former partner during an incident in County Wicklow three years ago.
Garda Sergeant Dave Robinson, who was a member of the Protective Services Unit based in Wicklow at the time, told the court that on a date in 2022, the defendant saw the victim driving their child to school.
He stepped in front of her car, walked around to the back of the vehicle, got inside, and attempted to take a mobile phone from her. A tussle ensued inside the car, during which the victim sustained an injury. She did not receive medical attention.
The driver and passengers in a vehicle behind the victim’s car jumped out to help and later gave statements to gardaí.
The court heard that the victim had driven her child to school and then returned to the scene to meet gardaí.
Sgt Robinson testified that the defendant was later detained at a garda station, where he engaged with gardaí.
The court was informed that the victim had obtained a safety order in 2021 and had since renewed the order this year.
The man had breached the order on multiple occasions during 2022 and 2023. The court also heard that the defendant had one previous conviction, a robbery, for which he was sentenced to several years in prison.
Gregory Murphy BL, counsel for the defendant, told the court that his client and the victim had gone through a “bad breakup”.
He added that his client had struggled with substance abuse during the time of the offences, but had since sought specialist help. The court heard that the defendant had more than 10 years of steady work history and one other child outside the jurisdiction.
The defendant also engaged with the Probation Service, as ordered by Bray District Court following one of the breaches of the protection order.
The defendant’s probation officer testified that engagement throughout 2024 had been “up and down,” but had improved in recent months, with positive progress being made. The officer told Judge Patrick Quinn that the defendant “is in the court’s hands”.
Mr Murphy said: “I ask for a lengthy suspended sentence to carry on his shoulders.” He added: “I’m asking for one last opportunity for my client due to the strain it has had on his family.”
Letters were handed into court from the defendant’s mother, father, and sister.
When sentencing, Judge Quinn said: “Domestic violence is a very topical issue,” adding that “society should deal with it in a strict manner”.
He handed down a sentence of two and a half years in prison for the assault, and a further 12 months for the breach of the order. The sentences are to run concurrently, with the final 18 months suspended for a period of 18 months.