Man who assaulted wife ‘needs to improve’ ahead of Mayo sentencing hearing
A man who assaulted his wife has been told he ‘needs to improve’ ahead of his sentencing hearing.
Brian Nevin, aged 64, of Pollbaun, Hollymount, previously pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to assault.
His case was scheduled to be finalised last Wednesday but was adjourned due to the ongoing solicitors’ strike.
A previous hearing was told that Nevin and the injured party were separated when gardaí were called to the family home on February 9, 2024.
Sergeant Mark Crehan told the court that Cathy Nevin had said she was assaulted by her husband.
She told gardaí that Nevin grabbed her by the neck and pushed her from the front door into the kitchen.
He pushed her against cupboards and the kitchen table causing the table to break.
Mrs. Nevin sustained a cut to her forehead having struck the cupboards.
Sergeant Crehan said when he arrived at the house, the defendant “had drink taken” but he would not have classed him as drunk. Nevin admitted to gardaí that he had pushed his wife from the front door through to the kitchen.
The court heard that Nevin had returned home to find the door locked and some of his clothes outside. He rang his daughter Rebecca who was upstairs in the house and she let him inside.
Nevin has no previous convictions. The court heard he has issues with alcohol.
Barrister Brendan McDonagh said his client apologised to his wife and the gardaí. “He fully accepts he did wrong,” said Mr. McDonagh, adding that this was an isolated incident.
In a victim impact statement, Mrs. Nevin said they had been together for 35 years and the emotional hurt of what happened is far greater than any physical pain caused.
She said the person she “loved and trusted” had attacked her and no sentence handed down would match the sentence that she is living with.
Mrs. Nevin said her husband is a “better man” than his actions that night and stated he has a “heart of gold” but needs to address his alcohol addiction.
The case was initially adjourned for a more comprehensive probation report.
Last week’s sitting heard that Nevin is taking part in the MOVE (Men Overcoming Violent Emotions) programme.
However, Judge Eoin Garavan noted that the defendant is not engaging properly with the Probation Service.
Nevin, the judge noted, has “done well in some regards” but “for his own sake needs to improve."
The case was adjourned to February 25 next.
“I urge you to use that time wisely,” added Judge Garavan.
* Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme