A 69-year-old man from Cork who was accused of coercively controlling his wife and family has been found guilty of three breaches of domestic orders.
Surveillance Equipment in Kitchen
The Cork District Court initially heard the background of the case when Gardaí were called twice to the family home in August of 2019. On one occasion, the woman claimed that her husband both intimidated and shouted at her. On the second, the woman reported that she had found surveillance equipment in the kitchen, which she said led to further feelings of intimidation for both her and her children. She claimed that she also later found an additional device in her bedroom.
Speaking of the impact that the crimes had on her, she said that they “affected me very significantly and my children when we found out we were being spied on.”
“It has made it very difficult to get up and go to work every day,” she continued, adding that she had been required to take medical leave from work.
Breach of Barring Order
The defendant was accused of breaching a protection order, and of breaching a barring order in January 2020. This breach of the barring order occurred when the defendant left presents outside of the family home for his children. Despite being offered an alternative arrangement by the complainant’s father to collect the presents, the defendant disregard this option and came to the property himself.
Based on the evidence presented before her, Judge Marian O’Leary said that she would not grant a dismissal under the Probation of Offenders Act.
She therefore imposed fines of €500 and €400 for breaches of the domestic orders, while also taking into consideration the third offence.
*In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.*
