A judge has noted that it is the victims of an offender with a “very serious history of violence”, who has been incarcerated from the age of 12 and “likely didn’t get the services he needed” at the time, who are now bearing the consequences in particular.
“Your tragedy is now also their tragedy,” Judge Catherine Ghent told the 26-year-old defendant.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Tallaght District Court where he was jailed for 11 months after he pleaded guilty to breaching a protection order by breaking into his ex-partner’s home, damaging another woman’s property and obstructing gardai.
A victim impact statement from the man’s former partner was read out on her behalf, in which she said her former partner had “ruined her mental wellbeing” and left her living in fear.
Judge Ghent praised the woman’s courage in seeking court protection and said she had been “brought nothing but fear and torment.”
“We can’t have a situation where someone is living in fear,” she said. “You ruined her mental wellbeing,” Judge Ghent said, addressing the defendant.
She added that domestic violence impacts children directly, not indirectly: “Children do not witness domestic violence – they experience it. They need to be protected from it.”
The court heard that on April 29 this year, the man kicked in the woman’s front door and was found asleep inside when Gardaí arrived. He had also previously made threatening phone calls to her on May 18, 2023, after she collected their daughter.
He was also convicted of damaging the front door of another woman’s home during a separate incident on April 26 this year.
Two other incidents – violent behaviour at Tallaght Garda Station and threatening and abusive behaviour in a public place – were taken into consideration. The man also blocked a Garda vehicle during the same incident.
Judge Ghent imposed a total sentence of 11 months: five months for breaching a protection order, four months for criminal damage, and two months for obstructing Gardaí. All sentences were to run consecutively.
The man also received a separate five-month sentence for breaching a safety order.
The court heard that the defendant has 52 previous convictions, including those for false imprisonment, aggravated burglary – for which he received a three-year jail sentence – and criminal damage.
Judge Ghent confirmed the suspended portion of the aggravated burglary sentence has now been activated due to the new offences.
“This is someone with a very serious history of violence,” she said. Addressing the defendant, she told him: “It’s clear your mother died when you were very young. You were incarcerated from the age of 12. It’s likely you didn’t get the services you needed at that time. Most particularly, the victims of your crimes are now bearing the consequences of that.
“Your tragedy is now also their tragedy,” she added.
The court heard that the man has long-standing issues with heroin, cocaine and tablets. Judge Ghent recommended urgent medical and psychiatric support while he serves his sentence.