Man (24) jailed for over two years for 'horrific' assaults on two women

Eimear Dodd

A man has been jailed for two years and nine months for “horrific” assaults on two women.

Ronaldo Lupo (24) of Rushenney Avenue, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm.

He has 52 previous convictions, including three for assault causing harm and over 40 for road traffic offences.

Detective Garda John Hayes told Eimear Delargy BL, prosecuting, that the injured parties Abby Tierney and Lauren Boyle-Hanney were socialising with Lupo's partner at Ms Tierney's home in Clonee on December 30th, 2023.

Lupo joined them and started drinking heavily. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard there were some disagreements between Lupo and his partner during the night.

Ms Boyle-Hanney saw Lupo grab a jar and believing he was going to smash it against his partner's head, she hit him in the face.

Lupo then grabbed her by the hair and punched her approximately 20 times. Ms Tierney tried to intervene and Lupo punched her in the jaw. She was knocked unconscious and fell to the floor.

The victims managed to get away. They were scared and believed Lupo was going to kill them. Ms Boyle-Hanney managed to contact the gardaí then got a male neighbour to come to the house and help in getting Lupo outside.

Lupo was arrested shortly afterwards. He was quite intoxicated and his detention was suspended as he was initially unfit for interview.

Both injured parties required medical attention that night. Photos of their injuries were handed to the court.

Ms Boyle-Hanney's nose was swollen and she suffered injuries to her hands. Ms Tierney sustained a swollen jaw, bruising to her face and arms and injuries to her hands.

Det Gda Hayes agreed with Oisin Clarke BL, defending, that the majority of Lupo's previous convictions are in the District Court.

It was accepted that there had been disagreements between Lupo and his partner that night, with Lupo becoming upset and crying in the hall at one point.

The witness agreed that Ms Boyle-Hanney struck Lupo, intervening in an argument between him and his partner. It was further accepted that when gardaí arrived, Lupo had a cut on his forehead and apologised.

Reading her victim impact statement, Ms Tierney said that she felt “shock, violated, powerless, confused” and very vulnerable in the moment of the assault. She said she trusted Lupo as her friend's partner and let him into her home as “someone I believed I could trust”.

Flashbacks

She said she has developed trust issues and finds certain situations involving alcohol more challenging. She said the assault made her feel “small, scared and humiliated”.

Ms Tierney said she has suffered with flashbacks, guilt and self-blame, though she knows she is not to blame. She said she hopes her voice can be heard and that what she has been through is acknowledged and never normalised.

In her victim impact statement, Ms Boyle-Hanney said she was “assaulted viciously” and a lot was taken from her, including her trust in others and sense of security.

She said she is more nervous around people and second-guesses their intentions. She said the incident had changed her perspective and made her more fearful.

She said she now gets nightmares. She said the “scars that remain from having to protect myself from a vicious assault” are a “constant reminder”.

“What should have been a happy night of celebration and preparation for a new year ended in the most distressing way,” she stated.

Mr Clarke said his client is apologetic, that his actions were not premeditated and there was no excuse for his reaction.

He said these are “horrific offences”, noting that it is “abhorrent” when a man strikes a woman and something that will concern the court.

Counsel submitted to the court that his client did not instigate the incident, but reacted inappropriately and excessively.

He said Lupo was quite intoxicated and was “not in his right mind” at the time.

Mr Clarke said his client has been diagnosed with several health issues. Medical reports, letters of apology and a letter from Lupo's partner were handed to the court.

He is doing well in custody and attending an anger management course. Mr Clarke said his client is aware “he is the cause of his own misfortune” and is upset at the impact on his actions.

Judge Martin Nolan said Lupo attacked both victims “quite savagely”, that both sustained injuries and were “terrified for good reason”.

He said Lupo “had at that time a problem with self-control, a very bad problem”.

“It seems he couldn’t control himself on the night and inflicted violence on the unfortunate victims”.

The judge noted Lupo has a history of similar offending. “Hopefully, in time he will learn to control himself and his temper because at that point, and on other occasions, he displayed a total lack of control”.

The judge said he considered the mitigation, including the guilty pleas, expressions of remorse and Lupo's medical issues.

He imposed a sentence of two years and nine months, backdated to February 1st last, when Lupo went into custody.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Women’s Aid (24-hour freephone helpline at 1800-341 900, email helpline@womensaid.ie) or Men’s Aid Ireland (confidential helpline at 01-554 3811, email hello@mensaid.ie) for support and information.

Safe Ireland also offers a number of local services and helplines at safeireland.ie/get-help/where-to-find-help/. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.