Suspended sentence for Cork man who punched woman and pulled her by the hair

John O’Leary, aged 29, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage in relation to an incident at his address in July 2025

Macroom District Court heard that the defendant also caused damage to several items in the kitchen of the house including the cooker, air fryer, a high chair, a chair and a tablet device. File picture: Dan Linehan

A Cork man who went out to get a Chinese takeaway and committed a violent assault and criminal damage when he returned has been handed a suspended sentence in the district court.

Macroom District Court heard that John O’Leary, aged 29, with an address at Fairfield Drive, Macroom, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage in relation to an incident at his address in July 2025.

O’Leary said he could not remember anything about the incident that occurred at Fairfield Drive, Masseytown, Macroom, at 11.50pm on July 8, 2025. When gardaí were called to the address an intoxicated male identified as O’Leary was on the road outside the house.

The injured party, a woman who lived at the house, was visibly upset and told gardaí that O’Leary had returned home in a highly intoxicated state and became violent, punching her and pulling her by the hair. 

O’Leary also caused damage to several items in the kitchen of the house including the cooker, air fryer, a high chair, a chair and a tablet device.

When he was arrested, the court was told that O’Leary became more aggressive and “squared up” to arresting gardaí and eventually had to be pepper-sprayed in order to subdue him. The court heard that O’Leary had no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor, Patrick Goold, said the incident was entirely out of character and O’Leary had no memory of it. He said his client was highly embarrassed by what happened and apologised to the injured party and the gardaí.

Judge Joanne Carroll said a victim impact statement provided by the injured party indicated that she was terrified by the attack. The court heard that the injured party had to replace the cooker because of the damage.

At a sentencing hearing the court was told that O’Leary had paid €1,750 compensation to the injured party. Judge Carroll sentenced him to five months in prison suspended for 18 months on condition that he attends anger management counselling.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.