'Heartbroken' ex-husband in court for breaching court order at Limerick home
Ex-wife tells judge there is 'an awful lot of animosity' between them and that defendant 'does not accept' that their relationship is over
A JUDGE has said she doesn't want to “add fuel to the flame” in the case of an estranged husband and wife who are currently embroiled in family law proceedings.
Judge Patricia Harney made her comments at Kilmallock District Court after the husband appeared before her accused of breaching the terms of a barring order taken out by his ex-wife.
Inspector Gearoid Thompson said the charge before the court relates to an incident which occurred last March.
He said the defendant and his ex-wife still share a home but live in separate areas of the property.
Outlining the facts of the case, he said the defendant, aged in his 50s, had become “very exercised” by the presence of a “male visitor” at the house.
“He expressed his displeasure,” he said.
“He was shouting and roaring for a number of minutes, he voiced his objections quite loudly,” Insp Thompson added.
Judge Harney was told gardai were alerted to the disturbance and that the injured party and the male visitor “withdrew from the property” due to the actions of the defendant.
“She was in fear and upset,” Insp Thompson said, adding that a young child was in the house at the time.
Solicitor Enda O'Connor said his client “fully accepts he was not the best version of himself” on the night and that what happened should not have occurred.
He told the court his client was “heartbroken at the end of his marriage” and that the separate family law matters are at “an advanced stage”.
Giving evidence before the court, the man's ex-wife said there is “an awful lot of animosity” between them and that the defendant “does not accept” that their relationship is over.
Adjourning the matter to facilitate the preparation of a Probation and Welfare report, Judge Harney warned the defendant the barring order remains in place and “has to be complied with”.