Appeal to drunk dad
Judge challenges man to break bad cycle
A FATHER who attended court reeling drunk for domestic abuse was challenged to “change the cycle of violence” for the sake of his daughter.
Gordon Luke Cora turned up at Cairns Magistrates Court last week so intoxicated he could not attend his hearing for breaching bail and a domestic violence order. He was remanded in custody for four hours in the hope he would be able to sober up and stay upright in the dock.
Instead, he registered a .229 per cent blood alcohol concentration and was kept in custody overnight.
The court heard Cora, 53, punched his ex-partner three times in the head when she refused to leave his Paramatta Park residence last October.
He had a history of repeated domestic violence including using a chair as a weapon to hit his partner.
Kelly Goodwyn, defending, said his client had watched his father abuse his mother and “to his shame and regret was becoming violent to his ex-partner”.
But Magistrate Kevin Priestly said Cora had made no efforts to seek treatment or examine his behaviour.
“He hasn’t shown any willingness to be rehabilitated,” Mr Priestly said.
He challenged the defendant to set a new example.
“Some people who are exposed to violence continue the cycle of violence and with your history this has occurred,” Mr Priestly said. “Think about for your daughter’s sake what example you set for her about what she should accept by men who will be in her life in the future.
“She is going to think that it is OK for men to beat her up because that is what she learned in her family.
“Someone has to stand up in your family and say ‘I am going to end it’.” After a pause, Cora agreed. He pleaded guilty to the charges and will have to serve half his two-year sentence.
Mr Priestly set a parole release date of August 6.