‘I don’t drink anymore’: Limerick man with ‘temper’ fined for breaching protection order

A JUDGE has urged a 40-year-old Limerick man to get a handle on his temper amid concerns over his behaviour when he and his former partner meet up. 

The man appeared before Kilmallock District Court on foot of a prosecution for breaching a protection order that was granted to his former partner who he shares an eight-year-old child with. 

Judge Patricia Harney said the cause of the man’s anger seems to be "flashpoints" which occur during the handover of the child.

"Those are pressure points,” she said, adding that, “Any problems the couple have should not take place in front of the child”. 

Judge Harney warned the man that if a “third party” enters the situation on either side - implying a new partner - there would be trouble: “It’s obviously going to happen, it’s like night and day”.

The Judge then asked the man: “Would it be fair to say you have a problem with your temper when there’s a bit of drink taken?” to which he replied “I don’t drink anymore”. 

The man, who can't be named in order to maintain the privacy of the complainant, has seven previous convictions for public order offences, assault and obstruction. 

However, the court heard that the most recent of these offences dates back to 2019 at a location in Cork. 

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Solicitor Cathal Quirke, representing the defendant, said the separated couple now share a “good and amicable relationship” and he asked the court to note the breach of the protection order occurred last year. 

A victim impact statement, submitted by the man’s ex-partner, was described as “remarkably gracious” by Judge Harney.

Details of its contents were not disclosed to the open court.

After imposing a €50 fine, Judge Harney told the man “I don’t want to see you again” and she recommended that he take a course on how to co-parent while separated through the family mediation service.

"It's a very good course, you might find it interesting", she commented.

Any person who is the subject of a protection order is allow to remain in contact with the complainant, but cannot use violence, threats or molestation against them.