A Garda who had to kick in a door to rescue a woman being assaulted by a man, told Ballinasloe District Court that the man was sitting on the victim and still punching her when Gardaí pulled him away and arrested him.
Judge James Faughnan heard that Gardaí were alerted to screams and when they arrived at the scene they could hear the woman still screaming for help. They entered the house and made their way upstairs to where the woman was rescued by Gardaí
The defendant, who cannot be identified as this is a domestic violence case, had fought off her attacker when he tried to put a pillow over her face, the Court heard.
Judge Faughnan noted from the victim-impact statement that the assault had a severe impact on the victim and that he had viewed photographs of her injuries.
The defendant had previous convictions relating to assault and domestic violence. He had received a suspended sentence and this latest matter was a triggering offence which meant he would have to serve this as well as the five-month sentence imposed for this incident.
The defendant was in custody since the night of the assault. His solicitor pleaded that he had lost his job and had taken to alcohol. He accepted he would receive a prison sentence and wished to apologise for his actions.
