Cork man viciously assaulted partner, repeatedly kicking her and whacking her head off a door panel 

Court heard woman was unable to walk to ambulance such were the injuries to her legs but defendant denied causing them, say they were a result of varicose veins

Accused was remanded him in custody for sentencing on March 2. Picture: Larry Cummins

A woman was pulled by the ears with such ferocity her left ear bled and her head was "whacked" off a door panel as she was repeatedly punched and kicked by her then partner.

This was the evidence from Garda Keith Shire in a case at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where Gary Kennedy, formerly of Thorndale Estate, Dublin Hill, Cork, faces sentencing on a charge of assault causing harm to the woman.

Judge Sinéad Behan said: “This is a matter which requires a custodial sentence.” 

The judge said Gary Kennedy, who is aged about 40, did not have an entitlement to anonymity in the case and remanded him in custody for sentencing on March 2.

Carmel Gaggin, defence barrister, said: “He admitted this offence. He cannot give a rational explanation for what he did. He says it is the worst mistake of his life. He has been drinking heavily at a wedding. He was highly intoxicated and he acted out of character for him. 

"He denied any abusive behaviours within their relationship. He has engaged with Coolmine [treatment centre].”

Garda Shire said that at about 1.30am on September 6, 2024, gardaí received a report of an incident at the couple's house.

“There they met Gary Kennedy. He was sweating profusely and was clearly agitated. I informed Mr Kennedy we were responding to an alleged domestic incident and had serious concerns for the safety and wellbeing of a person believed to be inside the house and that we would be entering same.

“Mr Kennedy initially refused, stating he would rather gardaí not enter. I advised Mr Kennedy that gardaí had a legal right to enter the property and he would be arrested should he attempt to obstruct. He then allowed us to enter unobstructed.

“Gardaí met with the injured party, who had swelling to the lower portion of both of her legs and bruising was beginning to appear. She was bleeding from a wound behind her left ear, had visible bruising to the left side of her face, and was bleeding from her lips.

“Due to the nature and extent of the injuries to her legs, she was unable to walk unassisted to the ambulance.

“The account she gave was of a vicious and prolonged assault that began in the bedroom while she lay in bed, and involved her being slapped on the face, dragged from the room, being kicked repeatedly in the legs and ribs, pulled by the ears causing the left ear to bleed, her head being ‘whacked’ off a door panel, and receiving punches to the face and body.

“At one point, she managed to leave the house and contact gardaí but she was followed outside by Gary Kennedy. This portion of the incident occurring outside the home is captured on CCTV, and Gary Kennedy is observed striking her a number of times, even knocking her to the ground, before dragging her back inside the house.

“When questioned, he framed the incident as more of a two-way physical altercation, and stated he had struck her to the mouth by accident and couldn't recall causing further injuries. When shown photos of the injuries to her legs, he denied causing these injuries, insisting they were a result of varicose veins.

“Mr Kennedy identified himself as the male in the white shirt in the footage and admitted to striking her outside the house, knocking her to the ground and dragging her back inside the house.”