Cork man held for hitting wife

A man accused of repeatedly punching his wife in the face at a christening has been remanded in custody despite the fact that his victim spoke up on his behalf.

John McDonagh, with an address at 1 Inchera Close, Mahon, Cork, was brought before Cork District Court on a charge of breaching a barring order at Ardbhaile, Mayfield, Cork.

The charge sheet states that the barring order was allegedly broken, “in that you did assault Grace Quilligan by punching her repeatedly in the face”.

Mr McDonagh applied to be released on bail.

“It was a stupid, silly thing last night, breaching the barring order,” Mr McDonagh said to Judge Leo Malone.

“I thought it was gone. I am willing to stay in my mother’s address. I won’t go up to her if you could do that for me please.”

Donal Daly, solicitor, represented Mr McDonagh. Ms Quilligan was represented in court by solicitor Joseph Cuddigan, who indicated that Ms Quilligan did not want to see her husband in custody that but she did want the barring order to continue.

Ms Quilligan also testified on Mr McDonagh’s behalf.

“John has been very good, only we had too much to drink last night,” she said. “John has a lot of shots.”

Cross-examined by Inspector Bill Duane on garda fears that Mr McDonagh would interfere with her if granted bail, she said: “He won’t.

“I did ring the guards over John being drunk and throwing hits and slaps and things. John is mostly verbal. Slapping would not be often. John cannot handle shots in drink. John is very good to the kids and very good to me. It is drink he needs to sort out.”

Judge Malone said the charge was of breaching a court order and that he was refusing bail. “I am satisfied from the evidence of the likelihood of interference with witnesses,” he said, and remanded Mr McDonagh in custody until Thursday.