Alcoholic dad who kicked daughter in face avoids jail

AN ALCOHOLIC father of six who kicked his teenage daughter in the face after she confronted him about his drinking has avoided jail.

The father (40), who attacked the girl (16) when she took his beer from the fridge, then punched her in the face in a second assault after gardaí were called, was given a nine-month suspended sentence.

Judge Bryan Smyth said what happened was “appalling” and the accused was deserving of prison, but he decided not to jail him after hearing he was now a “changed man” and his daughter and family had decided to give him another chance.

The accused, who cannot be named because of the victim’s age, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his daughter and obstructing gardaí in the incident at his Dublin home. The case was heard previously and came back to court for a victim impact statement and sentencing.

Defence barrister Simon Matthews said the accused’s daughter had outlined that she did not want to make a victim impact statement. Garda Adrian O’Hanlon said he was satisfied that the victim had made her decision voluntarily.

Mr Matthews said it was a situation that “wasn’t pleasant”.

The victim had said that things were now better in the home and the accused had not drunk since that day.

“They are doing well as a family,” Mr Matthews said. “His daughter and the rest of the family have given him another chance.”

“I have to say on the last day when the facts were outlined to me, I thought they were a pretty appalling set of facts and I felt it was deserving of a prison sentence,” Judge Smyth said.

He asked Mr Matthews why the accused should not be jailed. Mr Matthews said there were no longer any difficulties at home and the accused’s daughter had said he was a “changed man”.