Kildare court hears how man gave ex-wife life 'you wouldn't give a dog'

A man was handed down a two-year jail sentence at Naas District Court for breach of a safety order at an address in Kildare in 2018.

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Judge Desmond Zaidan on Thursday, March 7 charged with two counts of breaching a safety order at an address in Co Kildare on December 22 and 23, 2018.

The victim gave evidence in court that on December 22, 2018, her ex-husband sent threatening messages to their son saying he would kill her and her sister.

She said he told her on the phone “I better dig a hole for myself, that I’m dead. He told me that it’s not a threat, that he’s going to carry it out.”

The woman said her ex-husband said he was going to drive a car through the front door, and that she and her children couldn’t enjoy Christmas because of it.

“He has given me a life you wouldn’t give a dog,” she said, adding that he has beaten, abused and sexually abused her. 

The court heard the woman got a protection order in 2018. The couple have several children, with ages ranging from their teens downards.

Judge Zaidan asked the woman why she wanted to have a child with the man.

“He kept saying he was going to change,” she said.

The woman said she is getting counselling, and is going through chemotherapy for cancer.

She said her ex-husband said to her “whatever disease you have is gone into your brain and is eating it”.

Solicitor Tim Kennelly, representing the defendant, said his client said he didn’t say these things. He said his client feels guilty that he’s not around for his family and children.

Judge Desmond Zaidan said the evidence heard was “appalling and shocking”. 

“You don’t do this to your worst enemy,” he said.

Judge Zaidan sentenced him to one year in custody for the first charge of breaching a safety order, and one year, consecutive, for the second charge. The sentence was backdated to February 20, 2019.