Man is jailed for threat to kill partner and baby son

A MAN who threatened to kill his partner, their sixmonth-old baby and himself if she left him has been jailed for five years.

Patrick Stokes told Louise Kavanagh he was going to slit her and the baby’s throat after threatening to rape her.

While holding her neck the 26-year-old said: “You are going to die tonight.”

Stokes, previously of Booterstown Halting Site, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Circuit Criminal Court to arson at their home at the site in February last year.

The fire caused €21,000 worth of damage.

He also admitted assaulting Ms Kavanagh causing her harm, threatening to kill or cause her serious harm and falsely imprisoning her at the Clayton Hotel, Sandyford, South Dublin, on March 11, last year.

Det Garda Colm Gregan told Pieter Le Vert, prosecuting, Stokes and Ms Kavanagh were staying in the hotel after the fire left them homeless.

After a row over her leaving him he attacked and threatened Ms Kavanagh, holding her throat with both his hands.

The detective said his partner managed to get away and made her way to the door but saw Stokes had grabbed their baby by his baby-grow while holding a knife.

She feared he would hurt the child so returned only to be punched in the ribs and threatened.

Judge Martin Nolan accepted Stokes had a hard upbringing, but told him: “With drink and drugs you lose control and become a very violent man”. She then handed down her sentence.