A man who admitted damaging his former partner’s property while intoxicated has been given a month to compensate her, before a judge decides on his sentence.
Judge Ann Watkins, having noted that 40-year-old Ian Hennessy had failed to show remorse by compensating his victim more than 18 months after the offence, said: “He is an adult and he is well able to take responsibility.”
Hennessey, of Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to two counts of criminal damage arising from an incident at a house in Carrickmines on January 31, 2025.
The court heard a television worth about €340 had been swiped from the surface where it was standing, smashing the screen. A clothes horse valued at approximately €40 was also damaged.
Judge Watkin questioned whether the damage could have happened accidentally.
“You can fall and break it, you can throw things around and break them. There’s a difference”, she said.
Referring to the damaged television, the judge added: “A TV doesn’t break that easily. You’d want to give it a good wallop”.
The court heard that Hennessey accepted he had swiped the television off the surface where it was standing.
Defence counsel, Berna Kennedy BL, said her client had been intoxicated at the time but had since addressed his alcohol addiction.
She said Hennessey has completed treatment at Talbot Lodge in Cork, has been sober for six months, was taking prescribed medication and has secured full-time employment and cared for his son every weekend.
Judge Watkin noted the incident occurred in January 2025 but Hennessey had not offered to repay the damage until the morning of the court hearing.
Ms Kennedy said Hennessey would pay compensation, before Judge Watkin adjourned the case until July 27.
“Repay by then whatever damage he did. I’ll deal with it then”, she said.