Cork woman left with metal plates in her jaw after violent assault by partner after night out

Victim was left with fractured jaw, fractured eye socket and broken nose, court told

Judge said: 'There is an absolute inevitability of a prison sentence here,' and remanded the defendant in custody until February 18. Picture: Dan Linehan

A woman returned home from a night’s drinking almost three years ago with her then partner, only to be violently attacked and left with a fractured jaw, fractured eye socket and broken nose.

Garda Aisling Brosnan described the violent nature of the attack at a sentencing hearing on Wednesday for 41-year-old Jonathan Kingsbury, formerly of Connolly Road, Ballyphehane, Cork, and more recently of Schull, Co Cork, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

After hearing the facts of the case and the victim impact statement as well as mitigation put forward by defence barrister Nikki O’Sullivan, Judge Helen Boyle said: “There is an absolute inevitability of a prison sentence here. I will remand him in custody until February 18 and give a decision on that date.” 

Garda Brosnan said the injured party and Jonathan Kingsbury returned to her house in Cork City after midnight on March 11, 2024, after being out in a pub together.

“He hit her head off a counter top, he hit her head off a wall, he punched her in the face, put his hands around her neck and threw heavy kitchen items at her. He had broken her phone.

“She ran from the house and called into neighbours and contacted the gardaí,” Garda Brosnan testified.

In the course of three days in hospital, she required surgery to have metal plates inserted in both sides of her jaw.

Victim impact statement

In her victim impact statement she said: “Since Jonathon assaulted me in March 2023, I have really bad anxiety and don't sleep properly. I don't go outside the door, Before I go anywhere, I'll get an anxiety attack. It's horrible. I want to cry. I want to get sick, I start shaking. I start over-thinking things. 

"When I do go out, it's just rushing to get things done and get back home. I'm always afraid I'll bump into him. When I sleep, I sometimes have a dream and he could be in the dream so I wake up and that's it then — I'm awake and lying in bed or walking up and down the kitchen with anxiety. 

"Sometimes if I hear noises at night, I'm afraid that it's him at my door. I even got my locks changed as I didn't know if he had keys.

“I was always bubbly but I don't go out anymore. I don't socialise and only call to my sister. I wouldn't feel safe in a pub because I don't know where he'd be sitting.

“I have a metal plate and bolts and clamps in my jaw and my jaw still gets stiff when eating. I'm going away in June abroad and I'm terrified about the machines and metal detectors in the airport, that my jaw will set them off. This is my first time going abroad since the assault. 

"For months after it, I was eating and drinking through straws. I lost two teeth as well because of the punches he gave me.” 

Nikki O’Sullivan said the defendant wanted to reiterate his apology to the victim and assure her he would never approach her again. The barrister said the defendant was sober now for the past 18 months.