The woman was asleep in her upstairs bedroom when her former partner broke into the house. A number of their six children were also present asleep at the residence.

Mark Byrne (50) told the terrified woman that he had “done 10 years” before in prison and he had no problem going back to prison for the “right reasons”

At the man's sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court earlier this year, the Cork woman described how she had stayed in a toxic relationship for 18 years for the sake of her children, whom she loves dearly.

The man told her he had paid a man €10,000 and that he "would get her" if anything happened to him and he went to prison.

Eleven character references were provided to the court on behalf of the defendant from friends, neighbours and people who had worked with the man

Chad Redmond (29) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage at Hampton Wood Drive, Finglas on February 16, 2020.