Man punched and attempted to choke partner in front of child

A CLONROCHE man who assaulted his partner, leaving her with bruising on her face and a fractured eye socket, has been given a two-year suspended sentence.

William Banville (36) of Raheenakennedy, Clonroche, pleaded guilty to assaulting Shirley Byrne at 30 Cluain Fada, New Ross on August 6 2016. He also pleaded guilty to breaching a barring order when he came before Judge Cormac Quinn at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court.

The court was told that Ms Byrne returned home from the afters of a wedding when Banville, who was babysitting their four children, attacked her.

Garda Robert Flynn told the court that Banville hit Ms Byrne around the face before following her up the stairs where he attempted to choke her. One of their children witnessed the assault, Garda Flynn said.

When gardai arrived at the house, the defendant was still present. An ambulance was called and Ms Byrne was taken to Wexford General Hospital accompanied by a friend.

A medical report by Dr Paul Kelly showed that Ms Byrne suffered bruising behind her left ear, swelling to her cheek, bruising on her arm, a fractured eye socket and a chipped tooth.

Ms Byrne required further treatment at St James’ Hospital in Dublin.

Garda Flynn said that no victim impact statement was available to the court.

Banville was arrested and brought to New Ross Garda Station. He subsequently pleaded guilty before the court last April.

The defendant, said Garda Flynn, has previous convictions for burglary, road traffic offences and the breach of an order. He has four children with Ms Byrne. They had been separated, but are now back together, added Garda Flynn.

Defence counsel Jordan Fletcher said that Banville was drunk on the night in question but that alcohol was not an excuse for what happened. Mr Fletcher said Banville was paranoid that Ms Byrne was cheating on him, and the fact that the assault took place in front of one of their children was a sobering thought for him.

Mr Fletcher said Banville has battled with alcohol problems, and this reared its head in 2014 when his daughter died of leukaemia. Banville has made a huge effort to rehabilitate himself and has attended MEND along with Ms Byrne, ‘He has come under the Cornmarket Project and is sober now,’ added Mr Fletcher.

In passing sentence, Judge Quinn alluded to how the victim lost conscious after being assaulted by Banville, Aggravating factors included Banville being in breach of an order and that one of their children witnessed the assault.

Judge Quinn imposed a two-year sentence, suspended in full. Banville must also remain under the supervision of the Probation and Welfare Service for two years.