Gorey man receives suspended sentence for assault on woman

A 26-YEAR-OLD Gorey man who burst his girlfriend’s ear and held his hands around her neck, leaving her fearing she was being strangled, has been given an 18-month suspended prison sentence.

Stephen Bolton of 62 Creagh Woods, Gorey, was before Judge Cormac Quinn at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to assaulting Ciara Lynch on November 24, 2018 at 62 Creagh Woods, Gorey.

Garda Brian Doyle told the court that on the night in question the defendant went out with some friends drinking, leaving Ms Lynch at home minding his child.

At around 3.00am the defendant started ringing Ms Lynch looking for a lift home from a nearby roundabout. She obliged, leaving the child in the house to go and collect the defendant.

Garda Doyle told the court Bolton was drunk when he got into the car and began to question Ms Lynch about other men and text messages she made.

Garda Doyle said that when they returned to the house, Bolton struck Ms Lynch a number of times and she also fell over, hitting her head on the side of the bed.

Ms Lynch told the defendant to go into the bedroom to see her son, at which point she went into the bathroom where she discovered blood coming from a wound on the side of her head.

Garda Doyle said a report was received of the incident the following day after which he went to the house. Ms Lynch, he said, had swelling and cuts to her left ear, while photographs taken by the injured party’s father showed dried blood on her ear with marks on her arm and bruises on her neck.

He said the defendant had four previous convictions for minor road traffic offences. He had no previous convictions for assault.

Garda Doyle also read a victim impact statement to the court which had been prepared by Ms Lynch.

‘After the assault I felt alone and anxious. I was over-thinking and analysing everything that had happened. When I went back to work where I spent hours in a dark room all day I was constantly panicking, dealing with flashbacks and also getting bad headaches. I have managed to suppress my emotions for the past couple of months, forgiving him for what had happened to allow myself to move forward naturally,’ read the statement.

‘I have suffered from anxiety, panic attacks and lost my confidence in social situations. I find it difficult to talk to family and friends, and it is too upsetting for them, so I find it builds up in my head, and then there are times I’m so emotional, the smallest thing will send me to tears and have been sent home from work because of it.

‘When I am out and visiting friends, men would sometimes approach me. Where normally I would have been able to hold a conversation now I’m finding myself to be awkward and nervous. Stephen has found out about men who have approached me and threatened them when he has seen them, which makes me feel like I’m unable to go enjoy myself without someone getting hurt or terrorised.’

Defending Barrister Laura Cunningham (instructed by Lana Doherty, Solicitor) told Judge Quinn that the defendant had been forthcoming and made full admissions. She said because of alcohol he could not remember what had happened. He is 26-years-old and is fully supported by his family. He is the father of a five-year-old child with no previous convictions of this nature.

He has full access to the child and pays maintenance. He works in construction as a machine operator, earning €600 per week.

Ms Cunningham said he wrote a letter to Ms Lynch which was read into court stating he accepted full responsibility for his conduct and apologising.

Stephen Bolton in evidence told the court that he apologised to everyone, Ms Lynch, her family and his family, for what he had put them through. He said he took full responsibility for his actions, adding, that he had been attending counselling and also MEND.

In sentencing, Judge Quinn said the aggravating circumstances were that this was an unprovoked assault. He would take into account the victim impact statement and the effect it had on the victim. In mitigation he said the defendant had a five-year-old child and had entered an early plea of guilty. Judge Quinn sentenced the defendant to 18 months in prison, but in view of the Probation Report he would suspend it in its entirety. The defendant was ordered not to approach or contact Ms Lynch during this period, and to come under the supervision of the Probation service for 12 months from the date of sentencing. He also ordered the defendant to pay €5000 in compensation to Ms. Lynch.

I HAVE SUFFERED FROM ANXIETY, PANIC ATTACKS AND LOST MY CONFIDENCE IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS