A man who tried to attack the mother of his children with a lump hammer he found in a skip and who later engaged in a struggle with gardaí when he refused to hand it over has been given a suspended sentence.
Noel Enright (37) admitted he was lucky that gardaí were at the scene before he burst in on his ex-partner at her home – otherwise he could have faced a charge of murder or attempted murder.
The father-of-three, of Raleigh Square, Crumlin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to aggravated burglary and threats to kill Jennifer Barry at Saul Road, Crumlin on May 5th, 2008.
Judge Tony Hunt sentenced Enright to five years in prison, which he suspended on condition that he carry out 240 hours community service and be of good behaviour for seven years.