Latest news with #TallaghtDistrictCourt
Sunday World
16-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man jailed after claiming five-year-old girl made call that breached safety order
The woman told Tallaght District Court she was getting the children ready for school when her phone rang on July 2, 2024 A repeat offender who breached a safety order by calling his former partner and tried to blame a five-year-old girl for dialling the number has been jailed for three months. The man, who is in his 30s, had pleaded not guilty under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 after the court heard the woman was put in fear by the phone call, which came while she was at home with their children. The woman told Tallaght District Court she was getting the children ready for school when her phone rang on July 2, 2024. 'I was afraid. I just left the house with the kids,' she said. 'Usually when he rings, something bad happens. I felt it was unsafe to stay.' She said she didn't answer the call, but that it was enough to put her in fear. Under cross-examination from defence solicitor John O'Leary, she accepted she didn't know what the caller had intended to say, as she hadn't picked up. Garda Shane McCabe told the court that the complainant attended the Garda station on the evening of July 2 to report a possible breach of a safety order. He said she appeared agitated when giving her statement. Garda McCabe also told the court that the accused had six previous convictions, including assault, driving without insurance, and three prior breaches of safety and protection orders. The accused told the court he had been in a car when the call was made. He said he had given the phone to a child in the car and claimed she must have dialled the number. He told the court he had previously deleted the complainant's number but was using a new phone and had inserted a SIM card that still contained the number. He said he hadn't realised it was saved and only discovered the call had been made after checking the dialled numbers on the phone when the child returned it to him. Prosecuting solicitor Tom Conlon, for the DPP, suggested the explanation was too convenient. 'So it just so happened that a five-year-old took your phone and made a call - coincidentally - to the very person you're barred from contacting under a court order?' he asked. Mr Conlon also asked whether the accused had given that explanation to Gardaí at the time. 'I think I did, yeah,' the man replied. Mr O'Leary, in mitigation, said his client had been in an on-and-off relationship with the complainant for many years and 'loves her to bits". Counsel said the man was getting on well in custody, working in the prison kitchen, and wanted to put the matter behind him. Judge Shalom Binchy said there was nothing in the defence's mitigation to suggest the accused was addressing his issues with violence towards women. 'It's clear from his previous convictions that there's a difficulty in relation to violence and his attitude towards women,' she said. 'And not only that - he's now blaming a five-year-old girl for this breach.' She noted that the case had been contested and that the accused had three prior breaches of protection orders. She sentenced him to six months in prison, with the final three months suspended for 18 months. The man must enter a bond of €300 and attend the MOVE (Men Overcoming Violence) programme within three months of his release. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme Tallaght district court. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 16th
Sunday World
12-07-2025
- Sunday World
Repeat offender jailed after claiming girl (5) made call that breached safety order
The man, who is in his 30s, had pleaded not guilty under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018. A repeat offender who breached a safety order by calling his former partner and tried to blame a five-year-old girl for dialling the number has been jailed for three months. The man, who is in his 30s, had pleaded not guilty under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 after the court heard the woman was put in fear by the phone call, which came while she was at home with their children. The woman told Tallaght District Court she was getting the children ready for school when her phone rang on July 2, 2024. 'I was afraid. I just left the house with the kids,' she said. 'Usually when he rings, something bad happens. I felt it was unsafe to stay.' She said she didn't answer the call, but that it was enough to put her in fear. Under cross-examination from defence solicitor John O'Leary, she accepted she didn't know what the caller had intended to say, as she hadn't picked up. Tallaght district court. News in 90 Seconds - Saturday July 12 Garda Shane McCabe told the court that the complainant attended the Garda station on the evening of July 2 to report a possible breach of a safety order. He said she appeared agitated when giving her statement. Garda McCabe also told the court that the accused had six previous convictions, including assault, driving without insurance, and three prior breaches of safety and protection orders. The accused told the court he had been in a car when the call was made. He said he had given the phone to a child in the car and claimed she must have dialled the number. He told the court he had previously deleted the complainant's number but was using a new phone and had inserted a SIM card that still contained the number He said he hadn't realised it was saved and only discovered the call had been made after checking the dialled numbers on the phone when the child returned it to him. Prosecuting solicitor Tom Conlon, for the DPP, suggested the explanation was too convenient. 'So it just so happened that a five-year-old took your phone and made a call - coincidentally - to the very person you're barred from contacting under a court order?' he asked. Mr Conlon also asked whether the accused had given that explanation to Gardaí at the time. 'I think I did, yeah,' the man replied. Mr O'Leary, in mitigation, said his client had been in an on-and-off relationship with the complainant for many years and 'loves her to bits". Counsel said the man was getting on well in custody, working in the prison kitchen, and wanted to put the matter behind him. Judge Shalom Binchy said there was nothing in the defence's mitigation to suggest the accused was addressing his issues with violence towards women. 'It's clear from his previous convictions that there's a difficulty in relation to violence and his attitude towards women,' she said. 'And not only that - he's now blaming a five-year-old girl for this breach.' She noted that the case had been contested and that the accused had three prior breaches of protection orders. She sentenced him to six months in prison, with the final three months suspended for 18 months. The man must enter a bond of €300 and attend the MOVE (Men Overcoming Violence) programme within three months of his release. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
12-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Man jailed after claiming five-year-old girl made call that breached safety order
Today at 12:00 A repeat offender who breached a safety order by calling his former partner and tried to blame a five-year-old girl for dialling the number has been jailed for three months. The man, who is in his 30s, had pleaded not guilty under Section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 after the court heard the woman was put in fear by the phone call, which came while she was at home with their children. The woman told Tallaght District Court she was getting the children ready for school when her phone rang on July 2, 2024. 'I was afraid. I just left the house with the kids,' she said. 'Usually when he rings, something bad happens. I felt it was unsafe to stay.' She said she didn't answer the call, but that it was enough to put her in fear. Under cross-examination from defence solicitor John O'Leary, she accepted she didn't know what the caller had intended to say, as she hadn't picked up. Garda Shane McCabe told the court that the complainant attended the Garda station on the evening of July 2 to report a possible breach of a safety order. He said she appeared agitated when giving her statement. Garda McCabe also told the court that the accused had six previous convictions, including assault, driving without insurance, and three prior breaches of safety and protection orders. The accused told the court he had been in a car when the call was made. He said he had given the phone to a child in the car and claimed she must have dialled the number. He told the court he had previously deleted the complainant's number but was using a new phone and had inserted a SIM card that still contained the number. He said he hadn't realised it was saved and only discovered the call had been made after checking the dialled numbers on the phone when the child returned it to him. Prosecuting solicitor Tom Conlon, for the DPP, suggested the explanation was too convenient. 'So it just so happened that a five-year-old took your phone and made a call - coincidentally - to the very person you're barred from contacting under a court order?' he asked. Mr Conlon also asked whether the accused had given that explanation to Gardaí at the time. 'I think I did, yeah,' the man replied. Mr O'Leary, in mitigation, said his client had been in an on-and-off relationship with the complainant for many years and 'loves her to bits". Counsel said the man was getting on well in custody, working in the prison kitchen, and wanted to put the matter behind him. Judge Shalom Binchy said there was nothing in the defence's mitigation to suggest the accused was addressing his issues with violence towards women. 'It's clear from his previous convictions that there's a difficulty in relation to violence and his attitude towards women,' she said. 'And not only that - he's now blaming a five-year-old girl for this breach.' She noted that the case had been contested and that the accused had three prior breaches of protection orders. She sentenced him to six months in prison, with the final three months suspended for 18 months. The man must enter a bond of €300 and attend the MOVE (Men Overcoming Violence) programme within three months of his release.
Sunday World
07-07-2025
- Sunday World
‘People who assault gardaí can expect prison': Tallaght man spat in garda's eye
'simple as that' | Jordan Mallon (26) appeared before Judge William Aylmer at Tallaght District Court Jordan Mallon was jailed over the incident. Photo: Paddy Cummins. Jordan Mallon (26), of Donomore Crescent, Tallaght, appeared before Judge William Aylmer at Tallaght District Court facing five charges arising from a series of offences on October 14, 2024. He pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda James Cullen, violent behaviour in a garda station, criminal damage to a bus stop and two public order charges relating to intoxication and threatening behaviour. The court heard that gardaí were called to Castletymon Road in Tallaght after Mallon was seen kicking and smashing a bus stop shelter. He was intoxicated and acting aggressively. Gardaí arrested him and conveyed him to Tallaght Garda Station. There, while in custody, Garda Cullen stood beside the accused when Mallon suddenly turned his head and spat directly into the garda's face and eye. Garda Cullen was brought to Tallaght University Hospital and a garda doctor was contacted to assess the risk of exposure. While the saliva contained no blood and the risk was deemed low, the court heard that the incident was highly distressing. Garda Cullen returned to duty after receiving medical attention, the court was told. The court heard Mallon was 'extremely aggressive' throughout the incident and that assistance was required to restrain him. He has 38 previous convictions, including multiple offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, with his most recent convictions recorded in March and June 2025. Defence solicitor Michael Hennessy said his client had already personally apologised to Garda Cullen and was 'shocked by his own behaviour' after viewing CCTV footage of himself. 'He regrets the incident profoundly,' Mr Hennessy said. 'It was disgraceful, and he's thankful the garda did not suffer lasting harm." Counsel submitted that Mallon failed to process the grief of his father's death in a mature way and fell into alcohol misuse. "He's now 26, and since March this year, he's been sober, attending AA, and is due to start a job on Monday," counsel said. Judge Aylmer, however, asked: 'How can an apology ring true at all, when it comes after this man's record of persistent offending?' 'This was a garda simply doing his job,' he added. 'To be spat in the face and eye is utterly unacceptable. Fortunately, no lasting harm occurred, but this court must mark the seriousness of the offence. People who assault gardaí can expect prison. It's as simple as that.' Jordan Mallon was jailed over the incident. Photo: Paddy Cummins. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 7th Judge Aylmer convicted Mallon under Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, imposing a nine-month sentence, reduced to eight months to reflect the early guilty plea. He suspended four months for 12 months on condition that Mallon engage fully with the Probation Service, participate in a Restorative Justice programme and address alcohol misuse, violent and criminal damage behaviours. The court requested a final exit report. 'If he does not cooperate fully,' Judge Aylmer warned, 'he will serve the remaining sentence.' Mallon was also ordered to enter a €300 peace bond. The custodial sentence related specifically to the assault on Garda Cullen, with all other offences taken into account. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
Sunday World
05-07-2025
- Sunday World
Banned driver found asleep at wheel while almost five times over the limit
Sumod George Sam (45) was found slumped asleep in the seat, with the engine running and the keys in the ignition A banned driver, who was almost five times over the alcohol limit when he was found asleep at the wheel of his car in broad daylight with an empty vodka bottle in the passenger seat, has avoided a jail term and been disqualified from driving for five years. Garda Dylan O'Malley told Tallaght District Court that he was on mobile patrol on the Greenhills Road, Dublin 12 at around 4pm on August 9, 2023, when a man at a nearby bus stop flagged him down. The man alerted him to a white Honda Insight that was parked diagonally - half on the road and half on a hard shoulder - and appeared to be abandoned. When Garda O'Malley approached the vehicle he said he found the driver, Sumod George Sam (45), slumped asleep in the seat, with the engine running and the keys in the ignition. Stock image Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 5th An empty vodka bottle was visible in the passenger seat alongside recently purchased shopping, the court heard. The witness said the driver produced a learner permit and failed a roadside breath test. He was arrested and brought to a garda station, where the court heard that a subsequent breath analysis returned a reading of 99 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath - nearly five times the legal limit of 20 micrograms for a driver on a learner permit. The court heard that Sam has a previous drink driving conviction from 2022 and was already serving a three-year disqualification, imposed in May 2024 and due to expire in February 2027. He was charged under Section 5(4)(b) and 5(5) of the Road Traffic Act 2010, for being in charge of a vehicle in a public place while exceeding the legal breath alcohol limit - namely, while having the intent to drive or attempt to drive the vehicle even though he was not actually driving at the time. Sam, with an address at Earlscourt, Terenure Road East, Dublin 6, pleaded guilty at the hearing. His defence counsel, Lauren Flanagan BL, told the court that Sam was deeply remorseful, had not come to garda attention since and had been 'partying with friends' at the time - describing the incident as an act of 'stupidity.' She said her client, a father-of-two who previously worked in IT but is currently unemployed, was willing to undertake a driver awareness course and she asked the court not to impose a custodial sentence. Judge Patricia McNamara described the level of alcohol involved as 'extremely dangerous' and said the offence warranted a significant response. She convicted Sam and imposed a five-year driving disqualification, effectively extending the existing ban by three years. She also imposed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years on Sam's own bond of €400, with conditions that he not drive or be in control of a vehicle and that he remain of sober habits. Sam had already surrendered his licence to Blanchardstown Garda Station. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
