Cork man who left woman bleeding after 'vicious and prolonged assault' jailed

The court heard the woman was 'kicked repeatedly into the legs and ribs, pulled by the ears causing the left ear to bleed, her head being ‘whacked’ off a door panel'

A two-and-a-half-year jail term was imposed on a 44-year-old man over he domestic violence offence. File picture: Dan Linehan

A two-and-a-half-year jail term was imposed on a 44-year-old man who pulled a woman by the ears with such ferocity that her left ear bled and her head was ‘whacked’ off a door panel as he repeatedly punched and kicked her.

Judge Sinéad Behan said the victim continued to suffer anxiety and stress as a result of the violent attack. “This attack had a devastating impact on her,” the judge said. 

Gary Kennedy, formerly of Thorndale Estate, Dublin Hill, Cork, wrote a letter of apology. His barrister Carmel Goggin said: “He cannot give a rational explanation for what he did. He says it is the worst mistake of his life. 

"He had 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.” 

Garda Keith Shire said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that at around 1.30am on September 6, 2024, gardaí received a report of an incident at the house at Thorndale Estate, Dublin Hill, Cork City.

“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 well-being 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 into 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.”

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