A Dublin man who punched his estranged wife in the face, threatened her with a knife and slashed her car tyres has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended.
Father-of-six Larry Connors (37) had denied all charges against him but pleaded guilty to assault on the first day of his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in October this year.
He was jailed on Friday despite pleas from his wife that his sentence be deferred until after Christmas.
Connors, of Stocking Hill, Rathfarnham, Co Dublin, admitted assaulting Margaret Connors causing her harm at Killinarden Way, Tallaght on March 31st, 2016. Further charges taken into consideration included producing a knife and threatening to kill Mrs Connors, damaging her property, stealing her phone and breaching two Safety Orders.
The court heard the offences occurred over a two-day period, beginning on March 30th, 2016, when Connors walked into his wife’s house, pulled a knife on her, threatened to kill her and slashed her car tyres.
He was arrested, spent a night in Tallaght Garda Station, and was released the following morning on condition he stayed away from Mrs Connors and her home.
However, later that day, on March 31st, he again broke into her house and forced her to drive him in her car, before assaulting her in front of their children.
Judge Cormac Quinn refused to defer Connors sentence, pointing out the serious nature of the case and in particular Connors’ serious breach of two Safety Orders.
He described the Safety Order, a domestic violence order granted by the District Court, as “a most solemn and serious order”.
He gave credit to Connors for his plea of guilty, his remorse, his efforts to address his addictions and his involvement in the care of his children.
The court heard Connors applied to the High Court this year to be allowed out of custody to address his addictions, and successfully completed a 12-week rehabilitation programme at Cuan Mhuire.
The judge suspended the final 12 months of the sentence for two years and ordered Connors to keep the peace and be of good behaviour while in prison and for two years on his release.