Dundalk court: Man attacked ex-partner in her home
Man (52) who attacked his ex-partner in her home in County Louth given a suspended sentence
A 52 year old man who attacked his ex-partner in her home in County Louth, has been given a three year suspended sentence at Dundalk Circuit Court.
Glen Finnegan with an address at Mullenstown, Ardee pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and causing criminal damage to a bedroom door at the victim's home on June 8th 2019.
The court had previously heard how the defendant had originally called to his ex-girlfriend's home to do some paint work and was drinking cans of cider, while she was watching TV.
She asked him to put headphones on when he began playing music, to avoid disturbing the neighbours, but he became verbally abusive and kept putting up the music each time she told him to turn it down.
Ultimately she locked her bedroom door and refused to come out. The defendant began hammering on the door before he got into the room.
He told her he was going to kill her and punched her repeatedly and the woman escaped out her balcony door and sought refuge with a next door neighbour.The court heard he had 19 previous convictions from the district court - including serious assault.
Judge Dara Hayes, who had put back the sentencing to give the defendant the opportunity to engage with the Probation Service, noted five and a half thousand euro was in court and the 52 year old had not drunk alcohol since January 2022 and is on the fourth module of the Men Overcoming Violence programme.
The judge said given the nature and extent of the steps taken, he seems to be a changed person, and it’s almost five years since the offences were committed.
He imposed three year concurrent sentences suspended in their entirety on the defendant, placing himself under the supervision of the Probation Service for three years and on condition that he remains drug and alcohol free and continues to engage with the MOVE and CHOICES programmes.