Cork man jailed after throwing urn at woman and threatening to 'finish her off'

An urn containing the ashes of a woman’s late partner was thrown across a room at her home as she was punched approximately four times in the face by a man who also threatened to “finish her off”.

Shane Casey, aged 32, formerly of Great William O’Brien St, Cork, faced sentencing yesterday for threatening to kill the woman with whom he had been in a relationship at the time.

He was jailed for two years and three months by Judge Helen Boyle at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Garda Michael Abernethy said the crime was committed at the woman’s home at Great William O’Brien St on June 15, 2023.

Garda Abernethy said: “Shane Casey entered the property uninvited through an unlocked door. He struck her multiple times in the face.

“He struck her with his fists and he had rings on his hands.

“He ran towards the kitchen and said he was going to finish her off.

“She believed he was going to get a knife from the kitchen.

“He ran downstairs after her threatening to burn down the house and the neighbour’s house.

“He was demanding money. She gave him €50.

“He demanded more money. He picked up an urn containing her deceased partner’s ashes and threw these across the living room,” Garda Abernethy added.

“There was intervention by a neighbour.

“He was arrested and brought to Gurranabraher Garda Station.

“The injured party was brought to Mercy University Hospital.

“She had headaches, nosebleed, swelling to the side of her face, and soft tissue injuries.”

Interviewed three times, he was completely uncooperative. He replied “no comment” to all but one question, the court heard.

Defence barrister Jessica Kelleher said: “He has had serious and significant mental health problems since the age of 14, and has had admissions to psychiatric units.

“He suffered from paranoid psychosis.

“He was on heroin at the time and was upset at the ending of a relationship,” Ms Kelleher added.

Judge Helen Boyle said: “An aggravating factor was the invasion of her home — her place of safety.

“I have no doubt it was a terrifying experience for her.

“In mitigation, you pleaded guilty.

“In the past you had addiction issues with heroin and alcohol, and you have a serious diagnosis with a mental illness — diagnosed with paranoid psychosis.

“That is something I must have regard to.”

Judge Boyle added: “I will impose a sentence of three years and, on the basis of the sentencing objective of rehabilitation, I will suspend the final nine months.”