Suspended jail term for man who broke into ex-partner's Mayo home

A Donegal man who broke into his former partner's home in rural west Mayo has received a ten-month suspended jail term and is barred from returning to the county for seven years.

Eamonn Bonner, Castletown, Dunkineely, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court to charges of criminal damage and burglary with intent to commit an offence in December 2025.

Gda Sgt Noel Crinnegan told the court that the injured party, who lives in a rural location in west Mayo, first became aware something was wrong in November 2025 when she noticed items had been moved in her home and found her security camera had been disconnected. She subsequently found Bonner around her property and attended a Garda station to seek a protection order.

On December 9, she spotted a van near her home but did not immediately contact Gardaí. She went to stay with family and later returned to the house with her mother. She noticed the blinds were closed and suspected someone had been inside. When she entered, she believed someone had slept on the couch. As she moved through the house, Bonner jumped out and she fled through the front door to a neighbouring property before calling Gardaí.

CCTV footage played in court showed Bonner outside the victim's home at an earlier date, and further footage captured the moment the victim fled to her neighbour's house after encountering him inside.

Bonner had broken the lock on the back door to gain entry. He spent approximately 50 days in custody over Christmas, having made no application for bail following his arrest. He has previous convictions for theft of house keys from a former partner, as well as drug and road traffic offences.

Defence solicitor Cathy McDarby told Judge Vincent Deane that a psychologist's report detailed how Bonner lost his mother at a young age and required grief counselling, and that this childhood loss had contributed to difficulties around attachment. She said he had engaged well with the Probation Service, was receiving inpatient psychiatric counselling, and despite being unable to work due to strict bail curfew conditions, is set to take up a role working for a utilities company.

Ms McDarby asked the court to note that Bonner wished to apologise to the injured party and was prepared to give an undertaking never to return to Mayo if it would provide her with any comfort. 

Judge Deane said the probation report rated Bonner as a low risk of violence and a moderate risk of reoffending within 12 months, and that it indicated he had some understanding of his actions and empathy for his victim.

However, Judge Deane said the case warranted exceptional treatment. 

"The most horrific thing is to be in your own home and not to be at peace. That's where people go to get away from the world. What you find when a person is waiting in the house is worse than being burgled."

He imposed a ten-month prison term but suspended it for three years. Judge Deane said he was applying the exceptional circumstances provision to extend the suspension period beyond the standard two-year limit, with the primary aim of giving the injured party peace of mind.

Bonner entered his own bond of €100, with conditions including no contact, direct or indirect, including social media with the injured party, and a prohibition on entering Mayo for the duration of the suspension.

Bonner was then sworn in to give a seven-year undertaking to the court not to return to Mayo.

Solicitor Cathy McDarby confirmed to her client that any breach of that undertaking would constitute contempt of court.

Judge Deane said the sentence and conditions were designed primarily to give the injured party peace of mind.

"I want the injured party to get peace of mind in the future", the judge said.

• Published as part of the Courts Reporting Scheme.