Victim ‘tossed around like a doll’

A Co Cork man who imprisoned and assaulted his ex-partner over a period of up to two hours, making her believe she was going to die, was yesterday sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, with the last two years suspended.

Michael McDonnell, aged 27, from 10 Sandfield Terrace, Mallow, had pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to assault, causing harm, to Zoe McDermott at his home on January 20/21, as well as falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill or cause her serious harm.

Det Sgt Michael Corbett said the pairwere in a relationship which ended in December 2014. However, after a phonecall she agreed to bring dog food to McDonnell’s house after 11pm on the date of the attack.