A well-known Dublin disc jockey who assaulted his wife has been given a 12-month suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Former FM 104 and Century Radio DJ Greg Gaughran (39), of Fairways Green, Finglas, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Mrs Liz Gaughran on July 4th, 2000.
Gaughran worked at FM 104 until he pleaded guilty to the offence on March 2nd, 2001. He lost his job as a result and was granted legal aid before the hearing.
Garda Mick Hubbard told Mr Conor Devally, BL, prosecuting, that Gaughran began shouting at his wife when she returned to their home and then broke a telephone and savagely assaulted her.
Gaughran followed her up the stairs and pushed her into the bathroom where he kicked and punched her.
Garda Hubbard said Mr Gaughran then put his foot right up against her chest and kicked her into the bath. He carried on his attack by kicking and punching her, leaving her face badly scarred and bloodied.
Mrs Gaughran went to a neighbour's house where the gardaí and an ambulance were called. Gaughran told the gardaí he got very drunk and "lost it".
Ms Marie Torrens, BL, told the court that her client was deeply sorry for the incident and his mother and father were very supportive of him, his wife and their two grandchildren.
Judge Elizabeth Dunne said that it was fortunate Mrs Gaughran had recovered from her physical injuries but other aspects had left a mark on her in that she suffered from anxiety and panic attacks.
She described it as a serious incident and totally unjustified, possibly caused by Gaughran's drinking, but decided that a custodial sentence would be inappropriate at this time because she felt he had already suffered.
"Because Greg Gaughran has a position in the public eye this case is bound to receive a lot of publicity and cause him further shame," she said.
"Taking this into account, the fact that he has lost his job and his early guilty plea, I'm not going to jail him in this instance."