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.