‘I will do this just to get at you’ — claim heard in Kildare court

A woman seeking a temporary protection order against her ex-partner broke down when she appeared in Naas District Court on Thursday, December 1.

The woman alleged to sitting Judge Joanne Carroll that her ex-partner had been screaming at her while in the presence of their children.

She alleged that he was controlling, and that when recently received 12 missed calls and a text from him, in which he said that he thought 'something may have been wrong (with the children)' in his absence.

After hearing this, Judge Carroll asked if the woman had designated a specific time for the man to call her to discuss their children, to which she replied that he usually calls between 7pm and 8pm.

"Would it be reasonable to assume that he would be worried if he didn’t get a call at the time he was supposed to?" the judge asked.

When the woman replied "Yes," the judge then recommended that the two parties should settle on a designated time for phone calls.

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"Ask yourself, 'is there anything I can do to help this situation?'" the judge said.

The woman became visibly upset when she followed this up by saying: "I just don’t want our children thinking that this is normal (in a relationship)."

She added: "He told me once 'I will do (all of) this just to get at you'."

In response, the judge said that she would grant her the order, and directed the gardaí to serve it on the man.

Judge Carroll put in a provision that he can only contact the woman in relation to matters concerning their children.