Judge could not understand behaviour towards sibling

Judge Eirinn McKiernan remarked she couldn’t understand how somebody would do something like this to his sister.

She made the comment in regard to a 34 year-old man who produced a sharpened part of a wooden picture frame and threw a shoe at his sister. This was during an incident that lasted 20 to 30 minutes when he threatened to kill or cause serious harm to his sister.

Defence barrister James O’Brien told Trim District Court it related to a medical bill with the defendant alleging the injured party’s dog had bitten him and he was looking for money in respect of that.

The defendant faces four counts concerning the production of an article in the course of a fight/dispute, and threatening to kill or cause serious harm.

The defendant pleaded guilty with one of the charges withdrawn arising from the incident on 2nd August last year.

A victim impact report was prepared and presented to the court which was read by the Judge on Thursday last

Mr O’Brien said a guilty plea had been indicated early by the defendant, a father of two. The defendant had never been in trouble for anything of this nature. There had been no contact since between the parties. There was a civil restraining order in place.

The defendant was in a position to offer €1,000 in compensation.

The defendant told the Judge he apologised to his sister that day.

Judge McKiernan was informed the injured party didn’t wish to receive the money, and instead that it go to a women’s aid charity.

The Judge remarked that the matter needed investigation. She adjourned the case to 8th January next to receive a probation report, and enable the defendant pay €1,000 to the women’s aid shelter in Navan.

Separately, a man appeared before Trim District Court for a series of breaches of a court order by going to an address in Meath and banging and kicking a door and shouting and trying to gain entry and on at least one occasion punching a partner.

He also admitted to punching a 75 year-old man in the back of the head on a bus. He further admitted on the date punching the driver of the bus on 2nd September last.

Judge Eirinn McKiernan imposed a four month jail sentence on one of the charges.

She suspended the sentence for 18 months subject to the defendant entering a bond to keep the peace and engage with the probation service and comply with all requirements including availing of mental health services.