Kildare man imprisoned for assaulting woman with walking stick
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A MAN who beat his then partner with a walking stick, and put a brick through her kitchen window was jailed for a total of 22 months at a sitting of Athy District Court recently.
Eric Broughall (33), with addresses in Kildangan, and Flinter’s Close, Athy was charged with criminal damage, and assault causing harm at the same address in the Canalside Apartments, Athy on 12 February last.
He was also charged with the possession of heroin, and some very unique vandalism inside the garda cell later that evening.
He nearly had a bench warrant added when it appeared he was a no-show when called in the morning but he had sensibly briefed the court gardaí.
“He’s just gone to the shops to get tobacco,” said Garda Paul Condon, and so he was put back to second calling.
“His partner says he was intoxicated, and he assaulted her with a walking stick he had been using for a few days,” said investigating officer Garda John Prior, after Judge Desmond Zaidan asked for an outline of the facts after Mr Broughall’s eventual appearance.
“The injured party says Eric hit her on the head,” he said.
“The criminal damage? The back window was broken, there was a brick in the middle of the floor, and the injured party said that Eric threw it,” said Garda Prior.
His solicitor Jackie McManus entered a plea of guilty on her client’s behalf, and said he had been on “valium, tablets and alcohol”.
Following his arrest Mr Broughall was brought to Athy Garda Station where €300 of heroin was found following a search, and while he was in the cells, he used a cigarette lighter to burn his initials into the ceiling.
Judge Zaidan jailed Mr Broughall for 11 months for the assault, and another 11 months for the damage to the ceiling, which he ordered be served consecutively.
Following this, Garda Prior mentioned to the judge that because of bail conditions Mr Broughall had to stay at the address of a named friend and that legally guns has been moved out of the house to facilitate this.
Garda Prior applied on behalf of this man to have his guns returned.
Judge Zaidan gave his assent to the application.
“I will grant that order, provided they are legally held”.
