Dundalk Court: Man crashed into ex-wife’s partner’s car then fired axe at him

A 48 year old man who crashed into his ex-wife’s new partner’s car and then fired an axe at him, as he tried to escape, was jailed for three years at Dundalk Circuit Court last week.

Aleksandrs Martinovs with an address at Garrybawn, Tom Bellew Avenue, Dundalk pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, criminal damage driving without insurance arising out of the incident at Dundalk Retail Park on April fifth 2019.

The court heard last Wednesday that the victim had just got into his car, when the defendant crashed head on into it in the car park. Mr Martinovs then got out and took an axe from his own car and chased after the injured party.

He threw the axe, hitting his back, and the victim continued to try and get away. The defendant then picked up a rock and chased him again.

After he was arrested, Aleksandrs Martinovs said the collision wasn’t deliberate, and while he accepted he had an axe in his possession, he said he didn’t intend it to hit the man, who claimed had started the fight. He was disqualified from driving at the time and was uninsured.

The court heard the injured party was visibly shaking when gardai arrived and was not treated at the scene, but went to his GP the next day.

A victim impact statement read to the court on his behalf outlined how he suffers from panic attacks, PTSD and anxiety following the incident.

The court was told the defendant had 26 previous convictions, and was extremely emotional over the breakdown of his marriage and was drinking heavily as he was struggling to cope.

Judge Dara Hayes imposed sentences totalling four years, but suspended the final 12 months on him entering a bond to be of good behaviour during that period, and, given his pattern of driving while disqualified and leaving the scene of an accident, he imposed a 12 year driving ban.