Man to serve at least 4 years for attacking wife with chainsaw

A MAN who attacked his wife with a chainsaw was yesterday given an indefinite sentence for public protection and told he would have to serve a minimum of at least four years before he could apply to be released on licence.

Patrick Desmond Darragh, aged 52, first met his wife, when she was his defence solicitor and he was jailed for slitting the throat of another partner, a court heard yesterday.

Darragh admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on wife Claire Bates at their secluded Northamptonshire home in May this year.

Northampton Crown Court heard Darragh and Ms Bates met in 1998 when she was his legal representative at a trial where he was convicted of a knife attack on his then partner.

Darragh, born in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, was jailed for three and a half years for attacking Angela Spriggs with a serrated steak knife. He and Ms Bates were married when he was released in 2000, Northampton Crown Court heard.

Ms Bates needed more than 50 stitches to her head and surgery to reattach an ear after the attack at their remote cottage in Denford, near Thrapston, Northants.

Civil engineer Darragh was said to be a “Jekyll and Hyde” character who often flew into a jealous rage over his wife’s dealings with other men.

Outlining the case, Timothy Spencer read out statements from Ms Bates about her ordeal. She said: “I thought he was going to kill me. I was on the floor by the door. He was putting it (the chainsaw) in my head on my left hand side.

“I can just remember the noise and him putting it in my head. I don’t know how I got away because he didn’t stop.”

Ms Bates managed to escape to a neighbour’s house to call the police while Darragh, the court heard, tried to slash his wrists while locked inside his house.

Judge Charles Wide QC told him: “This was an horrific attack with a chainsaw on your wife.

“I have no doubt at all that you are a very dangerous man indeed. It may be that you are so dangerous that it will be many, many years before you are released.”