Cork man who punched and threatened to bury ex-girlfriend jailed

Man with previous convictions for assaults threw a lighter at his ex-girlfriend’s forehead

The accused had three convictions for assault causing harm and eight for causing criminal damage.

A man with previous convictions for assaults and making death threats threw a Zippo-style lighter at his ex-girlfriend’s forehead, punched her in the ribs, and threatened to bury her.

“Michael Galvin threatened to throw her in a septic tank to shut her mouth and bury her,” Garda Cathal Power testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The accused man of Macroney, Kilworth, County Cork, was jailed for 18 months today.

Barrister Emmet Boyle said the accused had no circuit court convictions. Garda Power said Michael Galvin had three convictions for assault causing harm and eight for causing criminal damage.

Mr Boyle said: “He was residing in a remote rural farmhouse at the time that was barely fit for human habitation. He had challenges growing up. He has a lamentable history of mental health, including bi-polar disorder and suicidal attempts. He was admitted for hospital treatment arising out of related issues.

“He is now 34 years of age. Medical evidence (in relation to the injured party) was a bruise and small lesion to the forehead. He said at interview, ‘All I can say is sorry for upsetting her.'” 

He was sentenced for assault causing harm by injuring her forehead, making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to her, and threatening to damage her car with a broom. Charges to be taken into consideration included threatening to damage her parent’s home.

The judge said: “I must take into consideration the gravity of the offence. You threw a Zippo lighter at her head causing her to bleed. You grabbed a brush and threatened to damage her car.” 

Judge Helen Boyle noted that the injured party declined to make a victim impact statement and that the defendant saved the victim the trauma of coming to court by his plea of guilty.

“Unfortunately you have a number of mental illnesses. You had a relatively difficult upbringing further aggravated by bullying. The probation service say you have an attitude of denial of domestic violence and you are not viewed as a candidate for probation supervision.

"Your culpability might be lower because of your mental health issues,” the judge said as she imposed a sentence of two years with the last six months suspended.

Garda Power said the offences were committed between January 14-15, 2023, at the defendant’s home.