A WOMAN whose husband allegedly broke her hip in an episode of domestic violence just before Christmas was granted an interim protection order against him until at least September when they both must appear to hear the full case.
“He’s abusive, and he broke my hip in October last year,” said the woman in her 50s.
“How?” asked Judge Desmond Zaidan.
“He pushed me, and I hit the stove and fell. I needed a full hip replacement,” said the woman.
“Did you report it to the gardaí?” asked the judge.
“No,” said the woman.
“That’s a life-changing injury, that’s serious,” commented the judge.
“That was the final straw after being pushed around the house,” she said.
“For how many year?” asked the judge.
“Probably the last 20. I stayed for the kids, stupid,” she said.
“You’re not stupid. Plenty of women come in here saying that, you’re not the first,” replied the judge. “I take it your children are adults?”
“Yes … he put it (the injury) down to that I had too much to drink and had fallen,” said the woman.
“Did any of your children witness this?” asked the judge
“No,” said the woman.
”I still think you should report it to the gardaí,” said the judge.
“We still have a mortgage, and I need his salary,” she said.
At this point the judge addressed the representative of the women’s refuge Teach Tearmann in court to talk to the woman.
The judge granted the protection order and adjourned the case for until 14 September for full hearing.
