Gym owner avoids prison for beating girlfriend

A Co Dublin gym owner has avoided a prison sentence for beating his then girlfriend and breaking her teeth after she questioned him about being out late.

Kevin Loughnan (28) brought €10,000 to court as compensation for the woman, which Judge Melanie Greally ordered should be paid over.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Loughnan attacked the woman after she poured a bottle of Sprite on his head to wake him up. His defence counsel called the assault a “brief alcohol fuelled incident of great seriousness”.

Judge Greally said “it was a most brutal and abrupt end to a lasting and valued relationship” but that it appeared to be “an aberrational incident of violence.”

She said it was a “borderline case” and imposed a three-year sentence which was suspended for three years on condition that Loughnan remains alcohol free.

Loughnan, of The Maltings, Skerries, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at his home on October 4th, 2015.

Sgt Darren Barry told Monika Leech, prosecuting, that the couple had been out in Skerries before the incident. Late into the night Loughnan went to another premises with his friend while his girlfriend went to his house.

She waited there for Loughnan and was upset that he was late home. She tried to sleep but could not because she was too upset, the court heard.

Started to scream

When Loughnan arrived home she asked him where he had been but he told her he was going to sleep. When he went to sleep she poured the Sprite over him to wake him.

He got up and pulled her by the hair before punching her in the face and chest. He then pulled her on to the bed and poured the rest of the Sprite over her. When she started to scream he put his hand over her mouth.

The victim fell to the floor with blood coming out of her mouth and Loughnan said “Oh my god, what have I done?” The woman then went to Loughnan’s parents for help and she was brought to hospital.

She was treated for two broken teeth and swelling to her face. She had to spend two nights in hospital. Loughnan went to the Garda station the next day and made admissions.

Defence counsel John Fitzgerald said Loughnan and the woman were in a five-year on and off relationship. He said she was very generous towards the accused in her victim impact report.

Counsel said Loughnan did a degree in business studies before setting up his own gym. He handed in various letters and testimonials for his client and said Loughnan was conscious of the shame he had brought upon his family.