Caretaker punched his partner and grabbed her by the hair

By Brendan Grehan

A CARETAKER, who punched his then partner, grabbed her by the hair and spat on her, got a two-month suspended sentence in Blanchardstown Court.

Ger O’Connell had assaulted Joyce Forde after a christening.

O’Connell, aged 37, with an address at Liffey Rise, Liffey Valley, Lucan, pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Forde and damaging her cardigan at the above address on July 24, 2016.

The presenting sergeant told Judge Grainne O’Neill that on July 24 last, O’Connell and his partner had been at a family christening and there had been alcohol consumed.

He said when they went home they got into an argument.

He said O’Connell punched his partner in the face and then grabbed her by the hair and pulled her into another room and then spat on her.

The sergeant said O’Connell also damaged her cardigan.

He said the injured party had lost some of her hair in the assault.

Ms Forde told Judge O’Neill that the relationship with O’Connell had been abusive.

She said she just wanted to move on with her life. In response to the judge she said the cardigan was worth €10.

The sergeant said O’Connell had no previous convictions.

O’Connell’s counsel said his client works as a caretaker for Adamstown Community College and is also studying for a history degree in NUI Maynooth.

He said O’Connell had brought €400 to court and asked the judge not to impose a conviction.

Judge O’Neill said a conviction was “the least of this man’s worries”.

She said: “I wonder why I should not send this man to jail.

“He punched his partner, dragged her by the hair and spat on her and he wants to be left without a conviction”.

The counsel said his client had shown remorse and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

She sentenced O’Connell to two months jail, suspended for one year.