Man dragged wife down hall and smashed her phone

A man who breached a safety order taken out by his wife after he smashed her phone and ‘dragged’ her down the hallway of their home has been handed a suspended sentence by Judge Haughton at the District Court.

David Nolan of 18 St Joseph’s Terrace, Ballymurn, pleaded guilty to the offence arising from an incident at his address on August 11 last. Solicitor John O’Donovan said that his client had apologised to the injured party and that ‘ their relationship has been very good ever since’. He said that Nolan was a full time carer to his father and also looked after his two children full time. Mr O’Donovan said that the only conditions of the order were to be available by the phone, not to leave the family home, and that Nolan has come to no garda attention since.

He said that ‘domestic life has continued as normal’ and the injured party did not wish to see any kind of custodial sentence handed down.

Mr O’Donovan asked the Judge to consider community service and said that his client was also willing to attend marriage counselling with his wife in a bid to save their marriage.

‘ This is a relatively serious breach,’ said Judge Haughton. ‘He dragged her down the hall.’ He then handed Nolan a six month sentence, suspended for twelve months with a warning that any further breaches would result in a custodial sentence.