A father who struck his 13-year-old daughter after her ice pop melted on his computer has been fined €350 and ordered to do a course which helps men to overcome violence. Gerry Flood, who is in his 40s, was also put on probation for two years on his own bond of €1,000 at Kilkenny District Court yesterday.
The case against Flood, formerly of Ballybough Street, Kilkenny, had been adjourned in February for a probation officer's report.
The original hearing was told that last July the girl went upstairs to play with her father's computer while he was out.
She left an ice pop beside the machine and forgot about it while she played. When her father arrived home he found that the ice pop had melted on the computer and he hit her a number of times on the back of her shoulders.
Solicitor Michael Lanigan told Judge William Harnett that the incident was distressing for Flood, who had no previous convictions. He accepted that he became angry and slapped his daughter more vigorously than he should have.
"He hopes that she can forgive him and he sincerely regrets what happened," Mr Lanigan said.
The solicitor told the resumed hearing yesterday that Flood had been assessed as suitable for a "Change (Men Overcoming Violence)" programme in Waterford and he was genuinely motivated to change his behaviour.