'You won’t be able to recognise your face': Cork man jailed for threatening to throw acid on ex-partner

A young woman was threatened by her ex-partner that she would not recognise her own face when he was finished throwing a bottle of acid over her. That was the threat made by the young man back in August 2020. 

On Friday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court — after one week remanded in custody — he was sentenced to two years and three months, backdated to when he went into custody, with the remainder of the sentence suspended.

Judge Helen Boyle made it a condition of the suspension of the sentence that he would continue to attend at the Men Overcoming Violent Emotions (MOVE) programme.

Detective Sergeant Niall Hayes explained the delay in bringing the case before the court. The accused went to the United Kingdom shortly after the threat was made and only returned recently.

The incident occurred at a time when his ex-partner had a barring order against him. He rang her and threatened to kill her. 

He also said: “I will put your door in. This time you won’t be able to recognise your face after the bottle of acid thrown at your face.” He added that he was going to kill her.

When questioned, he made admissions to saying these things, but said he had no intention of carrying out the threats.

The accused and his then-partner met when they were both in addiction treatment. Det. Sgt Hayes said: “It was very much a see-saw relationship.” 

During the sentencing hearing, the young woman spoke up for the accused saying she was keen for him to continue to have access to their children even though they are no longer in a relationship. She said she was not in fear of him.