Kildare court: Sentence imposed on father who ‘boxed’ his son in the face
CASE UPDATE
A man aged in his 50s who admitted to 'boxing' his son twice in the face was sentenced to serve nine months in custody.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Desmond Zaidan during an in-camera (in private) Naas District Court session on Thursday, October 3 last.
The court previously heard the allegations last month, but it was unknown at the time that the defendant had 'boxed' his 13-year-old son twice; this detail was relayed to Judge Zaidan by a garda who was sworn in on the latest date.
On the latest date, it was also heard that the man’s son suffered 'a severe laceration to the inside of his mouth' as a result of the two assaults.
The garda also told the court that the man was intoxicated at the time and later admitted to 'slapping' his son to gardaí.
In addition, he said that the man’s son has returned to his country of origin, alongside two of his other siblings, and is doing well (both the man and his son are foreign nationals).
"The assault is the reason why he [the man’s son] left Ireland," the garda added.
The man has no previous convictions.
MENTAL HEALTH
Defending solicitor Brian Larkin told the judge that his client suffers from schizophrenia.
"I do not have a [recent] medical report with me, but I do have medical reports from his country of origin," Mr Larkin added.
He also said that his client has been in custody for nearly two months already, and that he 'deeply regrets' his actions,
After consideration, the judge said that while he noted that the man has no previous convictions, he also pointed out the injuries sustained by the son, and the son’s age.
"It would have had a psychological impact on his son," Judge Zaidan added.
The judge imposed a nine-month custodial sentence on the man, and backdated it to when the man first entered into custody.
He also set appeal at €250 in cash.
If you have been affected by this article, you can find resources to help you by contacting Samaritans Ireland at [email protected] or by ringing 116 123, as well as by visiting pieta.ie (Free 24/7 Crisis helpline: 1800 247 247 or Text HELP to 51444).
For resources relating to young people who are concerned about domestic violence, please visit https://www.childline.ie/.