Man who assaulted wife had throat cut by her relative, court told

A man who assaulted his wife was later attacked by the victim’s relative who cut his throat using a Stanley knife blade.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Francis Maughan (aged 30) of Cabra Park, Cabra, Dublin has since reconciled with his wife and the couple are now in a good relationship.

Maughan pleaded guilty to assault causing Lisa Maughan harm at Phibsboro, Dublin on June 12, 2010.

Garda Brendan Dunne told Karl Finnegan BL, prosecuting, that on the night the couple had gone home after having drank a large amount of alcohol.

He said that Maughan “lost his head for no reason” when he got home and knocked his wife to the ground before swinging a knife at her.

He said Maughan then held the knife up to his own throat and threatened to kill himself.

The court heard his wife grabbed the knife and ran screaming to the front door. Maughan then punched her and her head hit a glass panel in the door causing the glass to shatter.

The victim told gardaí that her face was bleeding after this and she was in shock.

Gda Dunne agreed with Anne Rowland BL, defending, that 10 days after the assault a relative of the victim’s attacked Maughan.

She told the court that her client had been left with a massive scar across his throat after it was cut using a Stanley blade.

Gda Dunne said since the incident the couple have reconciled and recently had a child together.

Ms Rowland said her client is a settled Traveller who had made efforts to distance himself from older brothers who were in and out of jail. The court heard that Maughan is now unemployed and has two previous convictions, for theft and drunkenness.

She said that at the time of the offense he was suffering from depression and that his brother was dying.

Judge Martin Nolan suspended a sentence of three years' imprisonment on the condition that Maughan keep the peace for three years.