Sight of ex-husband 'like punch in the stomach', Mayo court told

A WOMAN told a court in Castlebar that the sight of her ex-husband was like a ‘punch in the stomach’ such was the fear she had of seeing him.

After hearing the evidence from the woman in question, along with three of her grown-up daughters, Judge Sandra Murphy said she had no doubt the defendant was in breach of a protection order as it was clear his ex-wife had been put in fear.

Inspector Dave Jordan told the court that the defendant, who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions, had been before the court before in relation to two other breaches of a similar order and had been given a suspended sentence of six months for one of the breaches.

The court heard that the defendant had been in custody since he was arrested in October on foot of the complaint which had been made by his ex-wife, who told the court that she had separated from her husband, but they were both living in a small town.

She told Judge Murphy that the incident before the court occurred on October 31, 2025, at a playground in the small town where she was with two of her daughters and five of her grandchildren on the day in question.

She noticed the car of her ex-husband passing by and said to one of her daughters: “He will be becoming down this way soon.”

She said her ex-husband walked down the road which was close to the playground and began calling to the children and also gesturing to her.

She recorded part of the engagement by her husband on her phone and it was not until they said they were calling the gardaí that the defendant left the scene.

The injured party said she was in constant fear.

“He puts me in fear. Every time I see him it is like a punch in the stomach,” she told the court.

She added: “All I want to do is to be left alone.”

The court heard from one of the daughters of the injured party who said her mother was ‘sick to her stomach’ and was shaking and very upset after the confrontation at the playground.

The court was told by the garda, who served the protection order on the defendant, that he said his ex-wife and family were all telling lies, but he opted not to go into the witness box when the case for the State had been concluded.

Judge Murphy ruled that reporting restrictions apply to protect the identity of other family members, including grandchildren.

The court was told the couple involved in the case had been married for 40 years and had a number of children.

However, solicitor for the defendant, Mr. Dermot Morahan, said things were not handled well by his client when the marriage broke up.

He said the fact that both were still living in a small town did not help matters but it was clear from the evidence his client is going to have to deal with it.

Judge Murphy said it was a serious matter particularly in relation to previous breaches but it was clear from the demeanour of the injured party and her evidence, she was put in fear and that is clearly a breach of the order made by the court.

Judge Murphy adjourned the case to get a victim impact statement from the injured party along with a report from the Probation Services as quickly as possible while she is also to enquire whether the suspended sentences can be invoked considering this latest conviction in relation to the charge before the court.

The defendant was remanded in continued custody.

* Published under the Courts Reporting Scheme.