Man avoids jail for assaulting and robbing his ex-girlfriend

A man has avoided a jail term for assaulting and robbing his ex-girlfriend in Co Kildare last year.

The victim, who cannot be named to protect her child’s identity, appealed to Judge James O’Donohoe not to jail Tadgh Delaney (41) because she believed he had turned his life around.

The Kildare woman told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court during a sentence hearing last month that she was not out for "vengeance" and just wanted the €130 Delaney had robbed from her.

She told gardaí­ she had called to a male passerby for help while she was being grabbed by the throat but the man continued on, telling her he did not want to get involved.

Delaney, with an address at Maple House, North Circular Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assaulting the 36-year-old woman causing her harm at Call a Cab, Main Street, Celbridge, Co Kildare, on January 29th, 2014.

He also pleaded guilty to robbing his ex-partner’s mobile phone and cash from her wallet. He has seven previous convictions for road matters and theft.

Judge James O’Donohoe previously said he would impose 240 hours of community service in lieu of a six-month jail term if Delaney was deemed suitable.

Judge Martin Nolan on Thursday confirmed Judge O'Donohoe's order, having read a report from the Probation Service that Delaney was suitable for community service. He ordered that the work be completed within a year.

Det Garda Paul Carney said Delaney sat next to his ex-partner on a bus as she was returning from a day shopping in Dublin. He accused her of seeing another man and threatened to kill her once she got off the bus.

Delaney followed the woman off the bus at a stop near the cab office and grabbed her by the throat. He beat her and chased her into the taxi office, where he robbed her phone and cash.

The victim told the judge that Delaney, a former heroin addict who has a long history working with Catholic youth organisations, was turning his life around.

Pieter Le Vert, defending, said his client began drinking and taking tablets when his relationship with the woman ended. He said Delaney ended up on the streets and had a break down in August last year out of guilt for what he had done.

Judge O’Donohoe said “this is a sad case characteristic of relationship breakdowns which too often result in a violent episode like this”.