Man who admitted assaulting woman told Cork court: "I'm pleading guilty to giving her a few boxes"

A 44-year-old man who previously denied punching a woman repeatedly into the face at her home in Cork has now pleaded guilty to assault causing her harm.

But after his arraignment and plea at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, he added: "I'm pleading guilty to giving her a few boxes."

Judge Helen Boyle adjourned sentencing of 44-year-old Paul Harty of Bay 11, Shandon Road halting site, Dungarvan, to November 19.

At an earlier hearing of the case, Paul Harty said of the complainant: “She only got a few scratches,” and that she was the one who first assaulted him.

Garda Keith Shire charged him with assault causing harm to the woman in the early hours of September 30 2025 at an apartment at Lower Glanmire Road in Cork.

“When gardaí arrived at the scene, Paul Harty was observed assaulting the woman inside the premises. He pulled her by the hair and while she was on the ground he was punching her to the face with a closed fist.

“Gardaí gained entry to the premises by jumping a back wall and entering via a back door.

“Paul Harty continued striking the woman until he was physically pulled off her by gardaí and restrained.

“The injured party suffered injuries to her nose, her teeth and her face," Garda Shire said.

Paul Harty testified that he was previously in a relationship with the woman and that she phoned him to come up from Dungarvan to visit her and that on this date, September 29/30, they were drinking together.

“We were hugging and kissing. She said, ‘do you want to get back together?’ I said, ‘No, it is what it is’. She snapped. She hit me in the forehead with something. I want no more to do with this woman, as God is my judge. I don’t bother with drugs or drink – I drink an odd time. She started making swings at me, I ended up assaulting her. She only got a few scratches,” Paul Harty said.