'I never knew what fear was until I encountered this': Woman tells court of ex's repeated breaches of safety order

Irish Independent

19 hours ago

The District Court heard that the man had turned up at his former partner's home twice within a week, in what a judge described as 'clear breaches' of court-imposed restrictions. The defendant received a two-month suspended sentence after he was convicted of breaching the order.
The court heard that the man was prohibited from attending the woman's property under the terms of a three-year safety order granted in May 2023. The order barred him from contacting his former partner or attending her home, limiting contact to email and only for child access matters.
The complainant told the court that she now lives in constant fear, saying: 'I never knew what fear was until I encountered this.'
The man, aged in his 50s, denied two counts of breaching a safety order under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018, on 13 and 19 September 2024.
The case was heard in camera before Judge Conor Fottrell at Dún Laoghaire District Court.
The woman told the court she had blocked the man's number years ago and only used a dedicated email address to communicate. All children-related custody handovers took place in a neutral location - a local car park - not at her home.
On September 13, 2024, she said she looked out her window and saw the man outside with a paper bag and a box of toys.
'He doesn't leave when he turns up. I felt I had to go out,' she said. 'He said he had maintenance money in the bag. But he already has my bank details. He should not have been near our home.'
A few days later, on September 19, she said she was helping her child off a school bus when the man appeared again.
'He was very high, very animated,' she said. 'He said he'd learned Irish in a weekend and Spanish in a week. His partner was there too. It was two of them and just me. I didn't feel I could safely bring my child inside.'
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She told the court both encounters left her unsettled and fearful.
'It just makes me so afraid. It makes me lose trust in the legal system because I had a safety order in place - and he still showed up.
"Every time I see a car the same colour as his, I panic. It affects my motivation to live. I can't be free. I don't deserve this. I'm trying to raise the children. One of them has huge medical needs. I need to be focused on them, and instead I'm living in fear. He's put fear into my phone - I don't even feel safe when it rings. I never knew what fear really was until I encountered this.'
The accused told the court he believed he had permission to attend on September 13, claiming he had emailed to say he would drop off money. However, he agreed that this email wasn't shown to the court. 'I thought things might improve,' he said. 'I didn't enter the house or cause any trouble.'
Judge Fottrell said: 'The terms of the order are unambiguous. He was not permitted to attend at the property. No email regarding this was produced. Even if one had been, it wouldn't authorise this.'
He said he found the woman's evidence 'credible and consistent,' adding: 'You have been incredibly brave and should be commended. No one should have to live in fear.'
The man was sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for 12 months, on condition he stay away from the woman's home and fully comply with the safety order.
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.