Accused admits putting his parents in fear, Cork court told

A father who said he is anxious to have a relationship with his young daughter was told by a judge that “whatever chance you have of having a relationship with her is going to be damaged by her seeing you putting her grandparents in fear”.

The 38-year-old appeared at an in-camera hearing of Cork District Court to deal with cases under the Domestic Violence Act, where none of the parties can be identified.

Defence solicitor Dennis Healy said the man, who admitted breaches of protection orders where he put his parents in fear on two occasions, was anxious to get out of custody in order to hold on to his job.

“He wants to make some life for his daughter. If he remains in custody, he will lose his employment,” Mr Healy said.

The solicitor also said the accused would stay away from his parents and not go near them.

Judge Catherine Ryan was told that the defendant’s parents are looking after his child at the moment.

On two recent occasions the defendant went to his parents’ home, and his threatening behaviour put them in fear — behaviour which was in breach of a protection order. The parents told gardaí they were terrified.

Mr Healy said: “He understands the family relationships are gone, which is a sad thing to say for a 38-year-old man.”

Imposing sentence, Judge Ryan said she was taking into consideration that nobody was injured in the sense of there being no physical altercation.

But she added: “I have to take account of the fact that the parents are living on their nerves, to put it mildly. And his daughter must be feeling the effects of this too.”

A three-month suspended sentence was imposed on condition that the accused would stay away from his parents and attend an anger management course.

The defendant wiped his eyes as the case was concluded at Cork District Court.