Teacher who beat up ex was ‘pleasant and courteous’

The deputy principal of a Louth secondary school has described a man who beat up his ex-girlfriend as pleasant, courteous, and generous.

Evangeline O’Neill told the Central Criminal Court that David Henry, a 28-year-old PE teacher, sat on top of her before punching her in the head, arms, and stomach. She had black eyes the next day and was unable to eat because of soreness in her jaw, she said.

Henry, of Alderwood Rd, Tralee, Co Kerry had pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm at the Causeway Camp school car park, Tralee, on June 17, 2012. After a trial, an 11-strong jury returned a majority guilty verdict of 10 to one.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy suspended the last 18 months of a three-year sentence on condition that Henry keep the peace. He backdated the sentence to January 28, when Henry went into custody.

Una Kirk, deputy principal of St Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda, told Anthony Sammon, defending, taht she was aware of the conviction and had no hesitation in acting as a character witness for Henry. She said his measured and reasoned approach to dealing with students made him popular with staff and students.

He had worked as a substitute PE teacher from Easter 2012 to the end of that academic year. She said he was always professional and courteous.

Ms O’Neill said: “The violence inflicted on me shook me to my very soul and left me terrified. It’s something that will never leave me.”

She said she has received counselling but still suffers sleepless nights and depression.

Detective Garda Aidan Carey gave an account of the assault based on Ms O’Neill’s statement to gardaí. He told Patrick Gageby, prosecuting, the couple had been going out but had separated. This relationship had ended and then rekindled.

She got into the back seat of his car and they drove to the car park of a local school. He then climbed into the back seat and started hitting her.

Defence counsel said Henry’s version of events were: “She lost it, she went at me with nails, fist, everything.” He said it was normal for them to fight and he tried to grab her hands to stop her. He said Henry accepts he used excessive force and is contrite.

The judge described it as a “very troubled relationship” and took Henry’s apology to the victim into account.