Woman with black eye in court tells judge partner who assaulted her 'needs help'

A woman sporting a black-eye in court has told a judge that the man, her partner, who gave her the black eye needs help.

At the Family Law Court in Ennis, Judge Alec Gabbett granted the woman a Protection Order under the Domestic Violence Act after she gave evidence of the alleged assault carried out on her by her partner last week.

After seeing the woman with the black eye as she entered the witness box, Judge Gabbett asked: “How are you? I can see what the issue is already. You have a fine black eye.”

Read More: Clare landlord criticised as High Court orders arrest of couple over failure to vacate home

Judge Gabbett said that the woman was looking for a Protection Order against her partner because he assaulted her on Wednesday, May 29.

He said to her: “You called the Gardai and you had to go to hospital for a CT scan as a result.”

Judge Gabbett asked: "Where else did he hit you? You are very swollen on your face. I can see it.”

Judge Gabbett asked was the relationship over with the man and she replied ‘No’.

Judge Gabbett said: "You are going back?” to which the woman replied ‘yes’.

She said that her partner “needs help”.

Judge Gabbett said that the woman’s application was “very appropriate for a Protection Order and I will grant you the Protection Order in the circumstances”.

With the Protection Order in place, gardai can now arrest the man without warrant if the woman says there has been a breach of the order.