Woman gets death threat from boyfriend on holiday
Athy Courthouse
A WOMAN said the reason she didn’t report a domestic assault was because her assailant threatened to kill her if she did.
Harrowing testimony was given behind closed doors at the Family Law sessions in Athy District Court.
The woman alleged that, on 21 May last at an unspecified location, her now ex-boyfriend “hit me, dragged me down the street, whipped me in the face with a towel and tried to kill me”.
“This was unexpected, we’d only been eight weeks together,” she said.
“I have been receiving counselling,” she said, gesturing to the counsellor in attendance.
“Ah, indeed! I have come across the good work of Ms [name] and her team at Teach Tearmainn women’s refuge,” acknowledged the judge.
The judge then asked why had she not reported the alleged assault.
She replied: “He said that if I reported it in [named holiday resort] he’d kill me. That’s why I didn’t report it.”
“Your first port of call should be the guards. My order is only a piece of paper, but they can enforce it,” advised the judge.
He warned: “This man could allegedly do this to his next girlfriend, so do not suffer in silence.”
The judge then issued her with a protection order, which he said he would next address on 12 January.
The woman's ex-boyfriend was not present in court.
