Waterford judge says man who breached safety order multiple times 'just doesn't learn'
Waterford Courthouse.
A man who harassed his ex-partner in breach of a protection order has been given a suspended prison sentence at Waterford District Court.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to 18 months, suspended for 18 months, by Judge Kevin Staunton.
Judge Staunton said that he had been given the man a chance when he breached the order last year and that “he just doesn’t learn.”
Inspector Niall Daly told the court that in June 2024, the injured party reported a breach of a safety order she had been granted against her ex-partner.
He was not to contact her except to arrange access to his children.
However, she reported to gardaí that he had “bombarded” her with messages, including 22 text messages, 10 emails and nine missed calls as well as messages on Facebook.
The messages were abusive in nature, and in one, he called her “a Judas.”
A month later, he sent approximately 69 further messages all abusive and insulting in nature.
The man was convicted in October 2024, but the judge put the matter back a year to October 2025 to give the defendant a chance.
The inspector told the court that since his conviction, the man had breached the order a further three times. On one occasion, he approached the injured party at traffic lights and filmed her, and in another, harassed her at the courthouse while they were there for consideration of access to the children.
He later, in the courthouse lobby, punched a wall while speaking to his solicitor, which frightened her.
The solicitor acting for the defendant said that his client had pleaded guilty and he was going through a challenging time when he committed the offences.
His client’s relationship had just broken down, there were issues with access to his children and that he did not have a support system.
“Unfortunately, we are not where we would like to be,” said the solicitor. He said the new matter was “minor in nature” and “brief chance encounters,” and there was no physical violence.
The solicitor also pointed out that the incident in the lobby was in her proximity but not targeted at her.
The solicitor asked that the judge apply Section 1.1 of the Probation Act to “reflect the minor nature of the matters.”
Judge Staunton declined, saying the man “just doesn’t learn.”
“He was given a chance last year and all he had to do was behave himself.
"The matters happen with such regularity and cause great distress to the victim and the court has to take account of that,” said Judge Staunton.
The judge imposed two nine-month sentences to run consecutively but suspended them on the condition that he attend an anger management programme and the Men Ending Domestic Abuse (MEND) programme.
MEND involves one-to-one assessment and sessions followed by group sessions and aims to support men to change their behaviour in intimate relationships.
The programme also provides an integrated Partner Support Service for the partners or ex-partners.
The defendant was also ordered to have no further contact with his ex-partner, save for text or emails to arrange access to his children.
“If he breaches again, he will serve 18 months.
"So it is a matter for himself. We have gone beyond safety orders and are now into suspended sentences,” said Judge Staunton.
