A 50-yr-old man who admitted coercively controlling and abusing his wife over a prolonged period is due to be sentenced next month after pleading guilty before the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork, reports Breaking News.
The court heard the man subjected his former wife to years of degrading and controlling behaviour between January 2019 and September 2020.
The abuse included striking her with a livestock whip, repeated verbal abuse, threats, controlling who she met, monitoring her activities and making constant sexual demands, reports Breaking News.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also admitted calling her abusive names and threatening to burn her in their home. reports Breaking News.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman described her daily life as “relentless and torturous”, saying she lived in constant fear and emotional exhaustion.
She said her husband mocked her appearance and weight, undermined her confidence and isolated her from friends and family, reports Breaking News.
TheLiberal.ie won’t quit
Please support us with a small donation on PayPal!
The woman told the court she often felt trapped and emotionally destroyed, describing how even when he was away from home, he retained the ability to instil fear in her.
She said she complied with many of his demands simply to keep peace in the house and avoid conflict, reports Breaking News.
She also revealed she had contemplated suicide during the relationship, saying she felt “better off dead” and unable to continue living under the abuse.
She said it was ultimately her children who gave her the strength to leave the relationship and protect them from the environment they were living in. reports Breaking News.
The court heard the man also had an affair during the relationship and accidentally sent a text intended for another woman to his wife while she was on holiday with his family.
Defence barrister Brendan Grehan told the court his client had taken responsibility for his actions and had self-referred to the MOVE programme — Men Overcoming Violent Emotions — in an effort to address his anger and behaviour, reports Breaking News.
Counsel said the accused accepted there was “no excuse” for what happened and acknowledged he could not blame his temper on family background or upbringing.
The man, who has four previous convictions and previously served time in prison arising from a fatal incident, expressed remorse through his counsel and said he hoped both parents could eventually maintain a positive relationship for the sake of their children, reports Breaking News.
Siobhan Lankford adjourned sentencing until June 3rd to consider legal submissions and relevant case law. reports Breaking News.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
