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A 52-year-old man has been convicted of coercive control, intimidation and multiple assaults on his ex-partner.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury found that the man had burned, beaten, head-struck, trampled and strangled the 43-year-old woman.
He is the first person to be found guilty of crimes under the Domestic Violence Act of 2018 after a trial.
The Gardaí have praised the woman for her bravery and described her as “a beacon of hope” for other victims to come forward.
The physical and psychological abuse suffered by the victim came to light when the hospital where she was treated for her injuries alerted the Gardaí.
The woman told the Circuit Criminal Court that shortly after they met, the man stubbed out the cigarette on her foot and burned it “for no reason.”
The man, who cannot legally be identified, also cut her face and neck with a pizza slicer, threatened to choke her, and trampled on her head and arm, breaking it.
The court also heard how the man gradually isolated the woman. “I couldn’t even walk to the stores on my own,” he said.
He started answering his phone to get his friends to stop calling.
She took her welfare money every week and told her it was a shame, a waste of space, and that she was spending nights in women’s aid shelters.
The court heard that the man also told the woman that he would circulate nude images and videos of her on the internet and send them to her family if she did not drop the accusations against her.
However, the victim testified against him and after deliberating for almost 15 hours the jury found him guilty of all but two charges.
Judge Elma Sheahan has left him in custody and will set a sentencing date tomorrow.
Chief Superintendent Finbar Murphy of the Dublin Metropolitan Region later said that he was aware that no sentence had been handed down, but wanted to commend the courage and courage of the victim for taking this case and telling his story to court. did.
He said: “She is a beacon of hope for many people who are in a similar situation and it is something that they will draw a lot of courage from themselves by hearing her story.
“In relation to anyone who has been in a similar situation, if they are the victim of coercive control, if they are abused or assaulted and if they have a homosexual or heterosexual relationship, if they are married or If you have a partner, whether you are young or Senior, you don’t have to put up with this behavior. “
Chief Superintendent Murphy added: “It is illegal, it is criminal, if you come to the Garda station and tell your story, you will receive an understanding audience, but you will also receive very professional service from us and we will connect you with other professional services that will provide you. they will help in this process and bring you back to life.
And remember that none of this is your fault. It is the fault of the person who is committing the offenses against you.
“If you come to us and tell your story, we guarantee that we will give you our full support and take these matters to court.”
He also said: “It is the first coercive control case in the state that has gone before a jury.
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