Man pleads guilty in Cork court to coercive control and assaulting partner

Man assaulting woman by pulling her hair and punching her in the mouth

There is a legal prohibition on identification of the parties in the case before Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

A man aged in his 40s confessed to the coercive control of his partner over a period of more than two years and to a charge of assaulting her by pulling her hair and punching her in the mouth.

There is a legal prohibition on identification of the parties in the case before Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Garda Danielle Love brought the case against the accused man who was arraigned on two charges.

The first charge under the Domestic Violence Act is one of coercive control. The particulars stated that: “On dates between January 1, 2019, and May 1, 2021, at (their home) he did knowingly and persistently engage in behaviour that was controlling or coercive and had a serious impact on (injured party) with whom he was in an intimate relationship and that the behaviour was such that a reasonable person would consider it likely to have a serious effect.” 

The second charge was one of assault causing harm to the same injured party on March 14, 2021, contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Tom Creed defence senior counsel said the accused had no previous convictions.

Judge Helen Boyle adjourned the case for sentencing on November 25.

A victim impact statement is to be prepared for the sentencing hearing.