Limerick court convicts man for behaviour towards his former partner in front of their young child

A BRAZILIAN man has been given a suspended prison sentence for breaching a safety order and intimidating his former partner. 

The matter was heard 'in-camera' in Newcastle West District Court, so the identity of both the accused and the victim is protected.

No names, locations or identifying factors can be given. 

A victim impact statement referred to in court said that the former partner was afraid and now “feels unsafe.”

The court heard that the man arrived to his former partner's house, refused to leave when he was asked to and stayed outside the house, which caused fear. 

“I'm constantly afraid that he'll return,” the victim impact statement read. 

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Judge Carol Anne Coolican said that the fact that their son witnessed this incident is an aggravating factor.

The judge stressed that they had been in a previous relationship and viewed this as  another aggravating factor. 

She did take the man's early admissions into consideration in  mitigation. 

Representing the accused, Barrister Nicholas Hall, BL, told the court that his client is 31-years-old, he has lived in Ireland for six years  and is working full-time in a management position. 

He told the court that since the incident on October 25, 2025, his client has moved away from Limerick to another county. 

“He accepts that he did breach  the order and shouldn't have done so,” Mr Hall said.

He explained to the court  that there had been a discussion about access to their son and a dispute arose.

“He made a silly decision,” Mr Hall told the court in relation to his client's choice to remain outside the house when he was clearly asked to leave. 

Mr Hall added that his client has not come to the attention of the gardaí since the offence and has no previous convictions relevant to this one.  

“He simply wishes to move on from this incident. He moved away from the injured party to put her at ease somewhat. He moved at the end of last year,” Mr Hall said of his client.

The barrister added that his client is “highly apologetic” and wishes to maintain access to his son. 

The court heard that the man has previous convictions, which are mostly road traffic offences and there were none of a similar nature.  

Judge Carol Anne Coolican convicted the man of breaching the safety order. He was sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for two years, on his own bond of €100.