A judge has granted court protection to a father and his two children after hearing that the children’s mother threatened to kill the couple’s baby last Christmas Eve.
At a family law court on Monday, Judge Patrick Durcan granted a safety order to the man against his wife. The order also affords court protection to the couple's two children.
The woman continues to live with her husband and their children and the order prohibits her from further violence or threats of violence.
In evidence, the man said that his wife threatened to kill their baby last Christmas Eve if the husband didn’t take the baby out for a walk.
The man said that his wife followed up on her Christmas Eve threat by throwing a side-table at him on Christmas Day, “while I had our young son in my arms”.
He said: “She also punched me in the face.”
The man added that “my wife has threatened to stab me on several occasions.
“My wife has physically abused me since last Christmas Day.”
‘Fearful’
Solicitor for the man, Isabel Treacy, told the court that the man "is even fearful that his wife may harm him . . . when he is asleep".
The man said that his wife “does get angry a lot”.
The woman was not present in court for the uncontested evidence heard.
After hearing the evidence, the judge said that he would grant a two-year safety order.
In response, Ms Treacy said: “My client feels that the presence of a safety order will calm matters down to the extent that he may be able to persuade his wife to seek professional help to help solve matters.”
