OAP ‘bashed his wife with walking stick’
A PENSIONER has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for a violent assault on his then 97-yearold wife at their home last year with an object believed to be his walking stick.
Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court heard that the accused, Tom Harte, had a short time earlier pushed his victim down a six-foot drop into a ditch while she was cutting briars in their garden.
The woman told gardaí it had taken her over an hour to extricate herself from the overgrown area without any assistance from her husband — after which she was hit on the head several times by him with what she thought was his walking stick.
The court heard, in what Judge Terence O’Sullivan described as “a bizarre case”, that the couple had previously enjoyed a good relationship with no history whatsoever of domestic violence. Harte had no previous convictions.
Harte (79), a retired recycling plant employee, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to his wife at their home near Ashford, Co Wicklow, on May 6, 2023.
Seizure
The court also heard claims that the accused faked having a seizure when gardaí and paramedics called to the house a short time later after his wife had sought help from a neighbour.
However, Detective Garda Frank Gunter said a paramedic who assessed him found no evidence of any “seizure activity.”
Asked how his wife had sustained her injuries: Harte remarked: “How the heck would I know?” During a second interview with gardaí he denied assaulting his wife but stated he suffered from “complete blackouts” at times which he thought might be linked to medication for epilepsy.
Harte was granted bail until Tuesday to place his affairs in order before starting his jail term.
A MUSIC manager hit all the right notes as she was crowned Best Dressed at Punchestown yesterday, with the racing festival attracting bumper numbers again, including Taoiseach Simon Harris.
Style queen Nadine King, from Donnybrook, Dublin, stole the show in the fashion stakes on the third day at the Kildare event. Wearing a tailored suit by Destree, Nadine exuded elegance as she paired it with Christian Louboutin shoes and a Chanel bag.
But it was her 16-year-old Mad Hatter hat that truly set her apart for the Bollinger Best Dressed Style Council judges, and it was worn not just as a fashion statement but a symbol of luck and sentimentality.
Among the finalists, married couple Raymond Gilbourne and Jillian Kelleher added a twist to the competition.
Head judge Jess Colivet said every detail of Nadine’s outfit was considered. A shocked Nadine said she was grateful for the recognition on a day out with pals. She is the final contender this week to enjoy a fast track pass to the final of the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition on Ladies’ Day today, when more finalists are picked and the overall winner announced.
Much to the delight of punters yesterday, the weather cleared prior to racing— and for the third day in succession, the crowds were up.
Some 18,289 attended compared to 17,783 on Day 3 in 2023, an increase of three per cent.
Notable visitors included the new Taoiseach and former jockey — and current European elections candidate — Nina Carberry.
Ahead
The feature race was the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle, and it was won by Teahupoo in Brian Acheson’s Robcour colours for trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Jack Kennedy. The win put Kennedy six ahead of Paul Townend in the Irish National Hunt Jockeys Championship.
The first race today goes to post at 3.40pm and the feature race is the Boodles Champion Hurdle, with State Man the odds-on favourite.
The Champion Hurdle hero is a nine-time Grade 1 winner and also unbeaten in four Punchestown course runs, including last year’s renewal of this very contest. He faces Irish Point, Colonel Mustard and Sir Gerhard at 6pm.