Man admitted assaulting a woman in Laois

A man banged his former girlfriend’s head off a wall and stole cash from her before damaging her car in Mountmellick in 2022.

Ciaran Kelly, 30, of 9 Church Street, Ballinasloe, Co Galway appeared before Portlaoise District Court where he admitted assault causing harm at an address at Cullenwood, Mountmellick on June 22, 2022. The man also admitted stealing €100 at the same location on June 22, 2022. 

He further admitted causing criminal damage to a car, at the same address on June 23, 2022. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said a victim impact statement had been prepared by the injured party. 

Judge Nicola Andrews asked about the extent of the damage caused by the defendant. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said the damage amounted to €2,350 in total.

“We have that in court to make good the loss,” he said. 

Sgt Kirby said the injured party was the defendant’s then girlfriend. 

“He banged her head against a wall,” Sgt Kirby told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

He said the man then stole €100 from her wallet. He said the man damaged a candle holder and fan and returned the following morning and smashed the windows of the woman’s Ford Focus car. 

“She was very upset over it,” Sgt Kirby said. 

“That is fully conceded, to the shame of the defendant,” said Mr Fitzgerald. 

He said his client had very little by way of previous convictions and he had completed a 12 week residential programme. He said the incident was the “catalyst for change” for the man.  

“He has been sober ever since,” he said. 

Mr Fitzgerald said there had been “copious amounts” of alcohol consumed at the time of the incident and an argument had broken out. 

“My client in an intoxicated state went completely over the top,” he said. 

“He has €5,000 with him here in court,” said Mr Fitzgerald. 

“The defendant has come up with this level of compensation. He has dealt with his own issues,” said Mr Fitzgerald. 

He said there had been “no follow up incidents” and his client had dealt with his alcohol abuse. 

He accepted the woman would have suffered “psychological trauma”  having been assaulted in her own home. However, he asked the judge to credit the man with the manner in which he had dealt with the matter. 

Judge Andrews asked Sgt Kirby about the injuries sustained by the woman during the assault. 

He said she had suffered swelling to the right side of her forehead and bruising to her arm and back. 

Mr Fitzgerald handed in a letter of apology from his client to the injured party. He said there hadn’t been any contact between the woman and the man following the incident. 

Judge Andrews fined the man €1,000 and gave him six months to pay for the assault. She ordered that the €5,000 be given to the woman. 

Judge Andrews said she had read the victim impact statement and was happy to hear the couple were no longer in contact with each other.