Latest news with #DomesticViolenceAct2018


Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man broke safety order by sending woman Bruce Springsteen concert video
A man who broke a safety order by sending a woman videos of a Bruce Springsteen concert has had his conviction removed on Christopher Callan said that he was sure Springsteen 'would not be too happy' to see his music being used in this way and that the man's actions were not in line with the singer's message as a performing artist. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in the District Court to the breach of a safety order contrary to section 33 (1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week He received a one-month suspended sentence in March 2025 and later lodged an appeal against the severity of that Rachel O'Mahony told the District Court Appeals Court that on June 20, 2024 the injured party reported to gardai that the man had breached a safety order on three different said that on dates between February 2, 2024 and June 20, 2024 the man sent the injured party text messages to her mobile O'Mahony said that these messages included videos taken at a Bruce Springsteen concert in Croke Park and a YouTube O'Mahony said that the woman said that this communication put her in fear. She also presented a victim impact statement to the judge which was not read aloud in counsel for the man, Seosaimhín Ní Chathasaigh BL, said that her client cooperated fully with the gardai and did not dispute the said that he has sincere remorse for the hurt caused by his actions and this is not a pattern of behaviour which will continue in the Ní Chathasaigh confirmed to the judge that the safety order has already been extended to last until 2030 with consent from her said that her client is not seeking to avoid accountability but having a conviction would have life-altering effects in regards to his employment or possible future Callan said the victim impact statement was very clear about the extent of the fear that the injured party said that the videos were 'intending to give a certain message' to the injured party, which was explained in her victim impact statement. Judge Callan decided to overturn the man's criminal conviction on the condition that he pays a donation of 1,000 euro to Women's Aid, noting that the safety order remains in place until 2030. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.


Irish Independent
19-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Man who broke safety order by posting video of ex wife with ‘abusive' music online gets jail sentence suspended on appeal
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, posted a video of four pictures on a loop, one of which showed his former wife in a swimsuit on a beach with her face distorted. He had pleaded guilty in the District Court to breaching a safety order contrary to section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 on June 13, 2024 but lodged an appeal against his sentence. Garda Noel McBrearty told the District Court Appeals Court that gardaí received a report from the injured party that her former husband had breached a safety order. He said that gardaí were made aware of a video posted to the man's Facebook page, which featured rap music playing over four images on a continuous loop. Garda McBrearty said that the first image was of the injured party wearing a swimsuit on a beach, the second image featured the woman's new partner, the third showed a vehicle the woman had previously owned and the fourth was another picture of the woman. He said the injured party told him that the rap music had lyrics which were 'abusive in nature'. Garda McBrearty said that all of the images had digitally distorted facial features but the injured party was able to identify herself in the pictures. Defence counsel for the man, Chloe Geraghty BL, said that her client recognised the 'stupidity' in posting the video on a public platform, although the woman was blocked from his page at the time. She said that the man had a very difficult time accepting the relationship was over but has now moved on. Judge Christopher Callan told the defendant that he breached the safety order less than a month after it was issued, adding that he was not sure the man understood what he was obliged to do under the order. ADVERTISEMENT The appellant told the judge that he now understands and apologised for his actions, adding that he will not do it again. Judge Callan told the man that he was 'running out of road rapidly' but decided to suspend the sentence of four months for the period of 12 months on the condition that he keeps the peace and abides with the directions of the safety order to not to contact the injured party by any means.


Sunday World
16-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man jailed after claiming five-year-old girl made call that breached safety order
The woman told Tallaght District Court she was getting the children ready for school when her phone rang on July 2, 2024 A repeat offender who breached a safety order by calling his former partner and tried to blame a five-year-old girl for dialling the number has been jailed for three months. The man, who is in his 30s, had pleaded not guilty under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 after the court heard the woman was put in fear by the phone call, which came while she was at home with their children. The woman told Tallaght District Court she was getting the children ready for school when her phone rang on July 2, 2024. 'I was afraid. I just left the house with the kids,' she said. 'Usually when he rings, something bad happens. I felt it was unsafe to stay.' She said she didn't answer the call, but that it was enough to put her in fear. Under cross-examination from defence solicitor John O'Leary, she accepted she didn't know what the caller had intended to say, as she hadn't picked up. Garda Shane McCabe told the court that the complainant attended the Garda station on the evening of July 2 to report a possible breach of a safety order. He said she appeared agitated when giving her statement. Garda McCabe also told the court that the accused had six previous convictions, including assault, driving without insurance, and three prior breaches of safety and protection orders. The accused told the court he had been in a car when the call was made. He said he had given the phone to a child in the car and claimed she must have dialled the number. He told the court he had previously deleted the complainant's number but was using a new phone and had inserted a SIM card that still contained the number. He said he hadn't realised it was saved and only discovered the call had been made after checking the dialled numbers on the phone when the child returned it to him. Prosecuting solicitor Tom Conlon, for the DPP, suggested the explanation was too convenient. 'So it just so happened that a five-year-old took your phone and made a call - coincidentally - to the very person you're barred from contacting under a court order?' he asked. Mr Conlon also asked whether the accused had given that explanation to Gardaí at the time. 'I think I did, yeah,' the man replied. Mr O'Leary, in mitigation, said his client had been in an on-and-off relationship with the complainant for many years and 'loves her to bits". Counsel said the man was getting on well in custody, working in the prison kitchen, and wanted to put the matter behind him. Judge Shalom Binchy said there was nothing in the defence's mitigation to suggest the accused was addressing his issues with violence towards women. 'It's clear from his previous convictions that there's a difficulty in relation to violence and his attitude towards women,' she said. 'And not only that - he's now blaming a five-year-old girl for this breach.' She noted that the case had been contested and that the accused had three prior breaches of protection orders. She sentenced him to six months in prison, with the final three months suspended for 18 months. The man must enter a bond of €300 and attend the MOVE (Men Overcoming Violence) programme within three months of his release. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme Tallaght district court. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 16th


Sunday World
12-07-2025
- Sunday World
Repeat offender jailed after claiming girl (5) made call that breached safety order
The man, who is in his 30s, had pleaded not guilty under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018. A repeat offender who breached a safety order by calling his former partner and tried to blame a five-year-old girl for dialling the number has been jailed for three months. The man, who is in his 30s, had pleaded not guilty under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 after the court heard the woman was put in fear by the phone call, which came while she was at home with their children. The woman told Tallaght District Court she was getting the children ready for school when her phone rang on July 2, 2024. 'I was afraid. I just left the house with the kids,' she said. 'Usually when he rings, something bad happens. I felt it was unsafe to stay.' She said she didn't answer the call, but that it was enough to put her in fear. Under cross-examination from defence solicitor John O'Leary, she accepted she didn't know what the caller had intended to say, as she hadn't picked up. Tallaght district court. News in 90 Seconds - Saturday July 12 Garda Shane McCabe told the court that the complainant attended the Garda station on the evening of July 2 to report a possible breach of a safety order. He said she appeared agitated when giving her statement. Garda McCabe also told the court that the accused had six previous convictions, including assault, driving without insurance, and three prior breaches of safety and protection orders. The accused told the court he had been in a car when the call was made. He said he had given the phone to a child in the car and claimed she must have dialled the number. He told the court he had previously deleted the complainant's number but was using a new phone and had inserted a SIM card that still contained the number He said he hadn't realised it was saved and only discovered the call had been made after checking the dialled numbers on the phone when the child returned it to him. Prosecuting solicitor Tom Conlon, for the DPP, suggested the explanation was too convenient. 'So it just so happened that a five-year-old took your phone and made a call - coincidentally - to the very person you're barred from contacting under a court order?' he asked. Mr Conlon also asked whether the accused had given that explanation to Gardaí at the time. 'I think I did, yeah,' the man replied. Mr O'Leary, in mitigation, said his client had been in an on-and-off relationship with the complainant for many years and 'loves her to bits". Counsel said the man was getting on well in custody, working in the prison kitchen, and wanted to put the matter behind him. Judge Shalom Binchy said there was nothing in the defence's mitigation to suggest the accused was addressing his issues with violence towards women. 'It's clear from his previous convictions that there's a difficulty in relation to violence and his attitude towards women,' she said. 'And not only that - he's now blaming a five-year-old girl for this breach.' She noted that the case had been contested and that the accused had three prior breaches of protection orders. She sentenced him to six months in prison, with the final three months suspended for 18 months. The man must enter a bond of €300 and attend the MOVE (Men Overcoming Violence) programme within three months of his release. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme


Irish Independent
12-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Man jailed after claiming five-year-old girl made call that breached safety order
Today at 12:00 A repeat offender who breached a safety order by calling his former partner and tried to blame a five-year-old girl for dialling the number has been jailed for three months. The man, who is in his 30s, had pleaded not guilty under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 after the court heard the woman was put in fear by the phone call, which came while she was at home with their children. The woman told Tallaght District Court she was getting the children ready for school when her phone rang on July 2, 2024. 'I was afraid. I just left the house with the kids,' she said. 'Usually when he rings, something bad happens. I felt it was unsafe to stay.' She said she didn't answer the call, but that it was enough to put her in fear. Under cross-examination from defence solicitor John O'Leary, she accepted she didn't know what the caller had intended to say, as she hadn't picked up. Garda Shane McCabe told the court that the complainant attended the Garda station on the evening of July 2 to report a possible breach of a safety order. He said she appeared agitated when giving her statement. Garda McCabe also told the court that the accused had six previous convictions, including assault, driving without insurance, and three prior breaches of safety and protection orders. The accused told the court he had been in a car when the call was made. He said he had given the phone to a child in the car and claimed she must have dialled the number. He told the court he had previously deleted the complainant's number but was using a new phone and had inserted a SIM card that still contained the number. He said he hadn't realised it was saved and only discovered the call had been made after checking the dialled numbers on the phone when the child returned it to him. Prosecuting solicitor Tom Conlon, for the DPP, suggested the explanation was too convenient. 'So it just so happened that a five-year-old took your phone and made a call - coincidentally - to the very person you're barred from contacting under a court order?' he asked. Mr Conlon also asked whether the accused had given that explanation to Gardaí at the time. 'I think I did, yeah,' the man replied. Mr O'Leary, in mitigation, said his client had been in an on-and-off relationship with the complainant for many years and 'loves her to bits". Counsel said the man was getting on well in custody, working in the prison kitchen, and wanted to put the matter behind him. Judge Shalom Binchy said there was nothing in the defence's mitigation to suggest the accused was addressing his issues with violence towards women. 'It's clear from his previous convictions that there's a difficulty in relation to violence and his attitude towards women,' she said. 'And not only that - he's now blaming a five-year-old girl for this breach.' She noted that the case had been contested and that the accused had three prior breaches of protection orders. She sentenced him to six months in prison, with the final three months suspended for 18 months. The man must enter a bond of €300 and attend the MOVE (Men Overcoming Violence) programme within three months of his release.