Kildare man placed father in chokehold
Naas Courthouse
A SON who punched his elderly father and put him in a chokehold at the family home was given the chance of a peace bond after the father pleaded for his son saying: “there’s a good person in there”.
Both father and mother attended the closed door session of the Family Law sessions at Naas District Court on 19 March, whilst their son appeared in the dock from custody where he had been since breaching an existing barring order on 14 March.
“He went out drinking that night, came home assaulted his father and put him in a choke hold,” said the investigating garda.
“He pleaded guilty to Section 33 (breach of a barring order) on Saturday”.
“Is that the father?” said Judge Desmond Zaidan, noting the older couple in the body of the empty court.
“Can you talk?” asked the judge.
“I feel his mental health issues need help; there’s a good person in there, he’s just lost his way,” replied the father.
“He gets very violent when he drinks, he’s arrogant, aggressive, and we can’t handle him,” he explained.
“You have a barring order, he can’t come to the house anymore,” said the judge.
“Is there anything else the court can do?” asked the father.
“There is very little I can do. Give him a chance or send him to jail. It’s wrong, but my heart goes out to you, but speaking as a father no child should lay a finger on a parent. That’s how I was reared,” said the judge.
“My client wants to apologise, he has been in custody since Saturday and has a black eye from an assault in there,” said solicitor David Powderley.
“Someone punched you in the eye?” asked the judge.
“I was just sitting down and someone came up from behind and punched me,” said the son in the dock.
“You didn’t like it?” asked the judge.
“No,” said the son.
“But that’s what you did to your father,” said the judge.
“Stay away from alcohol. There’s a good person in there – those are your father’s words.
“Is there any point putting this back for a probation report?” asked the judge.
“He is NFA (No Fixed Abode),” said Mr Powderley.
“I’ll tell you what, I’ll put him on a peace bond for six months. If he doesn’t behave (in that period) I’ll send him to jail for six months,” ruled the judge.
“If he doesn’t get help to fix his mind he’s going to end up in trouble,” he warned.
“He has more cases coming up in July,” said Mr Powderley.
“I wish you guys well,” concluded the judge.
