Man denies emotional blackmail of his wife and breaching domestic order

Accused sent video to his wife in which he appeared to attempt suicide, saying it was because he loved her and she would not talk to him, court heard

The accused was refused bail and remanded in custody until June 23 at Cork District Court. Picture: Dan Linehan

A woman wept in court claiming she was the victim of controlling behaviour and emotional blackmail by her husband, but he also cried in court, denying he had breached a domestic order.

A video from her phone was viewed at an in camera hearing of Cork District Court, where the man sent his wife a video of him appearing to attempt suicide, saying it was because he loved her and she would not talk to him.

The specific charges before the court related to alleged breaches of an interim barring order.

The woman said the first breach occurred shortly after 9am on June 12, when she was waiting for the bus to work and he drove by, and said to her from his car: “What is going on? What is going on?” 

She said after work she noticed he was behind the bus. She said she got out and ran to the house. She agreed  there had been nothing since.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, said this was a man in full-time employment who had no previous convictions of any kind. He said even by the complainant’s own evidence there was no threatening behaviour and no threatening words used. He argued it was a suitable case for bail.

Judge Mary Dorgan refused the bail application and remanded him in custody for one week.

While the charges of breaching the interim barring order related to the alleged incidents at the bus stop in the morning and afternoon, the complainant gave wider evidence against the accused.

“He is shouting and being aggressive to me. I am shaking. I am terrified. I really am scared of my life — afraid he will follow me, really terrified.

“He is recording my voice, recording me on camera and blaming me for everything. He sent me a video of himself [appearing to attempt suicide],” she said.

“He controls every aspect of my life, my phone, my social media, everything,” she said.

When Mr Burke said there was no evidence of a threat, Judge Dorgan said evidence related to the bus stop of watching and besetting would constitute a breach of the interim barring order.

Judge Dorgan asked to see this video. On this, he said he would kill himself “because I love you but you don’t want to talk to me”.

Refusing bail, the judge said: “It was extraordinary that he would bump into her on two occasions on the same date. That is of huge concern to the court.” 

Mr Burke said the allegations were denied.

The accused, who is in his early 40s, was remanded in custody until June 23 at Cork District Court. The parties cannot be identified because it was an in camera case dealing with charges brought under the Domestic Violence Act.