Cork man pleads guilty to breach of safety order after threatening wife with hammer

A 52-year-old man went away for a hammer at the height of a domestic row before returning to confront his wife in the kitchen with the words, “I’ll use this fucking hammer if I have to” and then slamming the counter with it.

This incident occurred in May 2025 and now at an in camera hearing of Cork District Court the man pleaded guilty to engaging in behaviour that put his wife in fear, in breach of a safety order.

The background to the incident was that Garda Karen O Sullivan went to the house on May 17, 2025, following the incident.

Garda O'Sullivan took a report of a breach of a safety order where the complainant said she returned home from work at around 5pm where her ex-partner was having a verbal dispute with their daughter.

Sergeant John Dineen said: “She asked him to stop and he went out to the garage, picked up a hammer and walked back into the kitchen with the hammer at his side.

“He looked at her and said, 'I’ll use this fucking hammer if I have to', and then slammed the hammer off the island in the kitchen and left the room.

“This put her in fear in contravention of the safety order. He was later arrested and charged with breaching the order.” Judge John King said, “I have serious concerns about the production of a hammer in this case.” 

Mr Buttimer said there were several things to point out in relation to the defendant’s behaviour since this occurred. 

Firstly, he co-operated with the investigation. 

“There is no risk of this man re-offending. He is no longer living at the family home. He went to Bruree for residential treatment and also attended aftercare,” Mr Buttimer said.

Judge King said he needed to be sure about the issue of there being no further offending in the future and he directed preparation of a probation report.

The defence solicitor said that background issues that gave rise to the situation could also be set out in a probation report.

“He was drinking at the time. He is very very sorry for what happened,” Mr Buttimer said.

Sentencing was adjourned until April 22 to allow time for preparation of a probation report.