Riedo killer gets 2 years for assaulting ex-partner

CONVICTED murderer and rapist Gerald Barry has been given a concurrent two-year sentence for assaulting his former partner and their young son two months before he raped and murdered Swiss student Manuela Riedo.

Barry, aged 29, a native of St James Crescent, Mervue, Galway, had vehemently denied trying to strangle his then estranged 27-year-old partner in her bed on August 3, 2007, and assaulting the couple’s then two-year-old son when the matter came before Galway District Court last March.

The court heard Barry had climbed in through an upstairs window at the woman’s house in a violent and drunken state in the middle of the night looking for money and had held her down on a bed while trying to strangle her.

Barry also denied contravening a Protection Order and further denied assaulting two gardaí during another incident in Eyre Square on March 31, 2007.

Judge Mary Fahy had imposed the maximum 24-month sentence in Galway District Court on all charges in March.

Barry appealed the severity of the sentences to the Circuit Court yesterday.

State solicitor William Kennedy said the appeal was entirely academic as Barry is serving three life sentences.

Judge Raymond Groarke affirmed the District Court sentences and made them concurrent to the life sentence currently being served.