Man gets suspended jail term for punching wife
The man pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before Castlebar District Court.
A man who punched his wife in the face has received a suspended prison sentence.
The defendant, who is aged 47, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault when he appeared before a sitting of Castlebar District Court.
The court was told that Gardaí were called to the home the defendant shares with his wife and their three children on August 15, 2022, following a complaint.
The man's wife had a deep gash under her right eye and her face was covered in blood. She said her husband had been drinking and punched her in the face.
The accused was asleep upstairs and officers took the victim and her children to hospital. She told Gardaí that the abuse had been ongoing for some time.
On August 27, Gardai met with the defendant who admitted the offence and was charged. The victim withdrew the charges when the case was originally due to come before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided to proceed with the case in the District Court.
Sgt Peter Hanley said the victim told him that her husband is a good man but gets violent when he drinks. The couple has continued to live together since the offence occurred.
Gda Christopher Perret said Gardai have received "many calls" from the couple but no further violent incidents have been reported.
Solicitor Tom Walsh said the couple seemed to have an inability to deal with less serious domestic issues than the one before the court without going to Gardai.
The legal representative said alcohol was a major factor in this case. Mr Walsh said his client is not currently drinking.
“There is no excuse under any circumstances for a man to assault his wife,” the solicitor added.
The defendant is not originally from Ireland but is an Irish citizen and has been living here for over two decades.
The court heard he works in catering and hopes to take over the running of a restaurant in the county.
Mr Walsh said the accused has undergone anger management since this incident and "has no intention of ever finding himself in this position again".
Judge Vincent Deane imposed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for a period of two years. He ordered the defendant to abstain from alcohol and to no longer put his wife in fear.
The judge requested that Gardaí keep an eye on the situation for the duration of the suspended sentence and granted the State liberty to re-enter the case.
