Cork court: Man pleads guilty to breaching barring order twice

A sentencing judge at a Domestic Violence Act case said he would need a risk assessment on the accused man before finalising the matter.

Judge John King made this decision at an in camera hearing at Cork District Court as he adjourned sentencing until January 27.

A risk assessment will be carried out as part of a probation report on the accused.

The 45-year-old man pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching a barring order.

At 11.30pm on July 30 the defendant went to his wife’s bedroom saying he was bringing her food to comfort her.

When she asked him to leave he said he would leave in the morning.

When his adult son intervened, the defendant said: “Walk outside and fight me.”

The second incident related to a posting on TikTok that was in breach of the barring order on August 25, where her name was the caption and the content included a song where the lyrics were understood to be directed at the woman and the family.

Judge King asked what the song was but the title was not indicated during the court hearing.

In relation to this incident, defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer said:

“He accepts he put innocuous TikTok nonsense online.”

Mr Buttimer said the victim impact statement was self-serving and that the woman had no problem with her ex-husband visiting the house and that on her phone there was a deleted message to him asking him to come up to the house.

The defence solicitor said that the defendant had no intention of contacting his wife again and added in relation to the injured party:

“I am sure she will have no difficulty staying away from him.”