Woman (50s) convicted after threatening husband and verbally abusing daughter

Sunday World

28-06-2025

The woman, aged in her 50s, pleaded guilty to three breaches of a protection order her husband had obtained against her in September 2024.
A woman has been convicted and fined for repeatedly breaching a protection order granted in favour of her husband - with a judge warning of the long-term emotional impact on their child.
She appeared before Judge Conor Fottrell at the District Court on Wednesday.
The woman, aged in her 50s, pleaded guilty to three breaches of a protection order her husband had obtained against her in September 2024.
Gardaí told the court that on one occasion in early October, at the family home, the woman shouted abusive language at her husband, calling him 'useless", "gay" and a 'f**kwit" - leaving him in fear.
She also directed verbal abuse at their daughter, calling her 'an itinerant', 'fat' and a 'stupid slut' and shouted 'where are your sluts?', which also left the child in fear.
File image of an Irish courtroom.
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Further breaches occurred in late September, when she shouted: 'I'll mop the floor with you,' and, in a separate incident, verbally abused her husband in a way that again caused fear.
The court heard there was no physical violence and that the woman had voluntarily left the home as a condition of bail. She has no previous convictions.
After reading victim impact statements from both the husband and the couple's daughter, Judge Fottrell said the breaches were 'very serious matters' and that the court was 'particularly concerned about the emotional impact on the child".
"Not to preach to the defendant,' he said, 'but the effect this has had on the child is very concerning - and that's going to take time to repair.'
He noted the victim - her husband, had spoken 'with a heavy heart', and described the accused as 'obviously someone with personal difficulties".
Defence counsel, Andrew Forde BL, said the woman had been married to the victim for a long period and was previously the main earner in the household but developed alcohol issues after being made redundant. She is now nine months into recovery and fully engaged with treatment at the Rutland Centre.
Judge Fottrell said he was 'not convinced a custodial sentence was appropriate", given the woman's guilty plea, work history and ongoing efforts to address her issues.
"I believe she has made efforts to turn things around,' he said. 'But the statement from her child provided to the court today was very concerning. I hope you've learned your lesson in all of this.'
He convicted her and imposed a €500 fine, with six months to pay.
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.