Mayo man is jailed for vicious attacks on former partner
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A man who viciously assaulted his former partner has been jailed.
Patrick Orme, aged 27, of Derrynamuck, Corroy, Ballina, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of assault causing harm. The injured party was his ex-girlfriend.
Gda Michael McGrath previously outlined to the court how Orme and the victim started going out in 2015 when he was 18 and she was 17.
He said in September 2016, the injured party began to notice signs of controlling behaviour which later turned to acts of violence.
She kept a log of the injuries caused to her and kept photographs in a secret password-protected folder on her phone. She remained in the relationship until she ended it in August 2018.
In August 2017, the injured party was strangled around the neck, thrown against the wall, and punched multiple times in the ribs.
In October 2017, she was struck across the face and left with bruises.
In March 2018, the injured party was punched and thrown to the ground, punched to the top of the head and pinched. On the same day, she was hit after being knocked to the ground and described this act as the "worst punch I have ever got". She said she was left dizzy and suffered headaches for nearly two weeks after this incident.
Gda McGrath said on a date in June 2018, the victim was again strangled around the neck. She described being lifted off the ground by the throat. She said she could not breathe and was thrown to the ground. She accused Orme of getting on top of her with his hands around her throat causing her to pass out.
On other dates in June 2018, she was punched to the head and stomach and pinched on the legs and arms.
On dates in July and August 2018, she was punched in her lower back, pinched and again thrown to the ground.
She made a complaint to the Gardaí in December 2018.
In a victim impact statement, the young woman said she suffered multiple physical injuries which she would have to hide from friends and family.
“Just when the bruises would heal he (Orme) would give me fresh ones,” the victim stated.
Barrister Patrick Murphy, representing Orme, said "insecurities crept in" after the injured party went to college in Dublin and his client went to college in Sligo.
He said his client has no previous convictions, is in employment, and in a stable relationship.
When the case came before the court again last week for finalisation, Mr Murphy said an up-to-date probation report shows fresh insight and understanding from his client. Orme had €7,500 in court as a sign of his remorse.
Judge Eoin Garavan said Orme had subjected the injured party to “a cruel, degrading, and violent regime for some 13 months".
“His anger grew and the level of violence grew,” the judge added.
He said the images of some of the injuries caused were “horrific”.
Judge Garavan said while he accepts the accused is now an “entirely different person”, he stated a custodial sentence cannot be avoided.
The judge imposed a two-year sentence of which six months is suspended.
“I don’t like doing that to a 27-year old man but I cannot let the past go unrecognised,” he remarked.
The judge commended the victim for coming forward and said her actions can give hope to others.
“Justice can be delivered at the end of the day,” he commented.
