Laois man who threatened to kill his partner gets five-month jail sentence
Portlaoise Courthouse
WHILE being held at a garda station after his arrest for threatening to kill his long-term partner, a man made a further phone call to the woman, during which he again threatened her.
So Judge Andrew Cody was informed at Portlaoise District Court when the 36-year-old was before it, where he pleaded guilty to breaching a barring order on 6 October.
The case was held in camera to protect the identity of the victim in the case.
Garda Sgt Kirby said that on the date, gardaí received a call from the injured party, who told them that her partner had threatened her on the phone. The defendant was arrested and taken to the nearby garda station.
Judge Cody noted the injured party’s statement in which she described how her partner “had threatened to kill her and while at the garda station he made a call and threatened her again.” Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said that her client had been held in custody for the past week on the charge.
Sgt Kirby said the man has 154 previous convictions and had breached a number of safety orders in 2021 and in 2023.
“He’s three years older now,” said Ms Fitzpatrick, “and has a bit more to learn on how to respect his partner. He’s 36 years of age and it’s high time that he turned a corner. Once released from custody, he tells me that he will seek residential treatment for his addictions and will plan to get treatment.” Noting the accused had carried out a “serious assault” on his partner in 2023,
Judge Cody convicted the man of the offence and imposed a five-month custodial sentence, backdated to 6 October.
At the request of Ms Fitzpatrick, Judge Cody fixed a €100 own bail recognisance, an independent surety of €2,500 or a cash lodgement of €2,500, with conditions that the defendant has no contact with his partner and observes a 9pm to 7am curfew.
