A man in his thirties has been jailed for a month after breaking a protection order by confronting and “bullying” his former partner in public while on bail for an earlier breach.
Judge Anne Watkin described the man’s conduct as “a serious and intimidating” violation of a court order during sentencing at Dún Laoghaire District Court.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the woman and their children, had pleaded guilty (GUITLY) to making a phone call and sending a message just days after the protection order was granted. He was convicted of a second breach involving a confrontation in a Dublin car park, having denied this offence.
The court heard the couple had been in a relationship for more than a decade and have children together. After they separated in late 2023, the woman obtained a protection order on January 17, 2024.
She told the court that she left the family home due to abuse and feared for her safety.
The first breach occurred on January 25 that year just over a week after the order was granted, when the man called her twice and sent a message asking: “Can you ring for five minutes so we can sort this stuff out.”
The court heard that the second, more serious breach took place on September 1, 2024, during a custody handover. The woman said the man became aggressive when she arrived with the children, shouting: “Where the f** do you think you’re going?” before asking her to sit on a bench outside the view of CCTV cameras.
“He told me to shut up and listen,” she said. “He accused me of using the kids against him and told them, ‘Sorry lads, your Ma is clinically insane. Until she changes the story, I won’t be taking you.’
“I left everything and he’s still trying to control me,” she added.
She told the court that the man brought up the protection order during the incident, which was not allowed under the terms.
Although the defendant had pleaded not guilty to the September breach, he made several admissions during his evidence in court that confirmed he had discussed the order and made unauthorised contact.
Judge Watkin said that even on his own account, the man’s behaviour amounted to a breach. “She had gone to the trouble of getting a protection order,” she said. “He confronted her in a public place, criticised her over the order and undermined her in front of their children. He bullied her. He demanded she speak to him. That’s a serious breach.”
She also noted that despite admitting his conduct, the man had subjected his former partner to a rigorous cross-examination through his defence.
The court heard that the man has 12 previous convictions, including those for theft and for assault. He was on bail at the time of the September incident.
The defendant’s solicitor said that the man has not seen his children since the September incident, is remorseful and now has another child on the way.
Judge Watkin imposed a one-month prison sentence for the September breach and ordered the man to enter into a 12-month peace bond with strict conditions. These include stipulations that he have no contact of any kind with the woman and to only communicate through a solicitor or in an emergency.
He must also notify gardaí of any change of address and engage with probation services, including anger management.
A recognisance of €500 was fixed, with an independent surety of €500 required in the event of an appeal.