Couple's children walked into bedroom as man choked and punched ex-partner 

Sentencing adjourned ahead of a victim impact statement

The accused pleaded guilty to assaulting his former partner last March. File picture

A 35-year-old man confessed to choking and punching his former partner in her bedroom and now sentencing has been adjourned for her to prepare a victim impact statement.

Inspector Brendan McKenna outlined the facts of the incident when the accused man pleaded guilty at Cork District Court.

The charge to which he pleaded guilty was one of assaulting the victim on March 18, 2023.

Insp McKenna said that at 11.30pm on that date, the defendant’s ex-partner was at home when the accused entered the property.

“He entered her bedroom, choked and assaulted her by punching her in the ribs. She lost consciousness for a period,” Insp McKenna said.

The couple’s young children entered the bedroom at the height of the incident and the victim regained consciousness and managed to break free from the assault.

“She went downstairs. He followed her and pulled her to the floor by her hair and he then left the house,” Insp McKenna said.

The inspector said a victim impact statement would be required.

Judge Marian O’Leary put the case back for a month to allow time for this statement to be prepared.

Michael Quinlan, defence solicitor, acknowledged that there had been a victim impact statement prepared already in the case but that there were difficulties with it and that another statement would have to be prepared.

Also in court on the adjourned date will be a number of counts of breaching a barring order in respect of the same injured parties. Because of these contested cases brought under the Domestic Violence Act, the parties cannot be identified.