Man in the Midlands sent back to prison after domestic row
A Longford man sentenced to two and a half years in prison for a brutal assault on his ex partner has had the final suspended 16 months of that sentence reactivated after breaching the post release terms of that conviction over Christmas.
Thirty-five-year-old Brendan Kelleher, Drumlish Hill, Drumlish, Longford was jailed in October 2021 by Judge Keenan Johnson that left his victim and mother of his child “breaking into a sweat coming into Longford” following the attack in September 2019.
Mr Kelleher came before Judge Kenneth Connolly last week on foot of a Section 99 application to reactivate the duration of his suspended sentence was taken by the State.
The court heard how Mr Kelleher's final one year and nine month sentence had been handed down subject to a number of stringent conditions upon his release.
Among them included to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the period of seven years post release, to remain under the remit of the probation services for a period of 12 months post release and to remain sober while also attending AA meetings.
However, Shane Geraghy BL, for the State, said gardaí had been called to a domestic related matter at the accused man's home address on December 9 2022.
Garda Eoin Reilly gave evidence of having arrived at the property shortly before 10pm.
He said Mr Kelleher's mother, Kathleen met him at the scene to inform him how her husband had been involved in a verbal dispute with the couple's son.
Upon entry, he said despite the row having eased, he found Mr Kelleher in an intoxicated state.
Mr Kelleher, himself, took the stand to reveal how he had consumed a number of cans of Heineken not long before opening a bottle of Jameson.
He said soon afterwards both himself and his father became embroiled in a heated exchange in the kitchen of the family home.
Asked by Judge Connolly why he should desist from returning him to prison, Mr Kelleher said while his daughter remained in the custody of his parents, his battle with alcohol was beginning to pay dividends.
“What can I say? Give me another chance. Every day I am improving,” he said. “And I know I am improving. I am running the family farm at home.”
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Mrs Kelleher, in fighting back tears in the witness box, told of how she had “panicked” on the night and rang the Gardaí.
“Do you know something?” Mrs Kelleher said to Judge Connolly, revealing that Mr Kelleher's now ten year-old daughter had resided with them since 2016.
“We had the best Christmas in years, she was in her glory, she was so happy.”
Judge Connolly said while he empathised with Mrs Kelleher, he could not ignore how the accused had been come before court on “countless occasions” in respect of his ceaseless battle with alcoholism.
He also expressed concern at despite Mr Kelleher resorting to having a medical device inserted internally to combat his demons, he continued to drink.
He said his colleague Judge Johnson had “given every latitude” to him, “today was the end of the road”.
He sentenced him to serve 16 months from the balance of 21 months on his suspended prison term.