Man allegedly posted revenge porn & assaulted former partner, Kildare court hears
Naas Courthouse
A WOMAN whose ex allegedly posted revenge porn, assaulted her in front of their children, and tried to strangle her with a bike chain was granted an interim protection order this week (18 December) by a judge who referred to the man as “a vile man”.
“He is the father of my children, but no, I don’t live with him,” clarified the appellant, who appeared behind closed doors at Naas District Court, in the company of a social worker from Teach Tearmainn, the women’s refuge.
“He’s been sending intimate videos without my consent, and he’s done this before,” she said to the judge when asked why she was seeking the order.
“When I went to the refuge he sent more intimate images,” she alleged.
“I have a letter here from Tusla showing concern for my kids because of the behaviour of their father. They have no problems with me."
Judge Desmond Zaidan began to show his concern as he started to read the letter.
“The children are on a child protection list and we have extreme concern because of the father’s use of violence against the mother,” he quoted.
“There is serious domestic violence and substance,” he continued.
“He started assaulting you before you had the children?” he asked.
“I thought it was normal … he wouldn’t let me go to the shops on my own … my family wouldn’t support me because of him, but there’s loads of support now because I’m no longer with him,” said the woman.
“Both children have witnessed their father be violent with their mother,” he continued reading, before commenting: “That’s very damaging”.
“I see here ‘serious abuse’. Strangulation?” asked the judge.
“He took the chain off my son’s bike and tried to choke me with it,” she said.
“And this is a pattern?” asked the judge, to which she nodded.
“You’re doing the right thing, and they’re young, but they’ll move on,” said the judge.
“I’ll grant you an interim protection order,” he stated.
The woman then explained how she was now able to move on after signing off on a new house after a four year wait.
The judge then addressed the social worker: “These videos need to be taken down, because this vile man is not just attacking their mother, but they will grow up and see this in the future if they ever looked up their mother”.
“My social worker is trying to get me into counselling,” said the appellant, a move the judge approved of.
“You won’t forget, but you will learn to move on, and not go from abusive partner to abusive partner,” he commented, before setting a date for a full hearing - to include his attendance – on 27 July.
