Man told pregnant partner he’d ‘kick the baby out of her’

A 25-year-old man with a Navan address told his partner that he would “kick the baby out of her and burn down the house” has been jailed for 14 months at Trim District Court.

The man appeared on an array of charges at the court but cannot be identified because some of the charges are covered by restrictions on reporting under the Domestic Violence Act.

Court Presenter Sergeant Toni Kerins told the court of a number of incidents in which the accused’s partner had been put in fear by him. On the 10th of February this year the woman had reported to Gardai that the defendant had sent her abusive text messages which was a breach of a protection order granted to her by a court.

On the 17th of February she said he had threatened that he would “kick the baby out of her and burn down the house.”

On the 8th of March the woman reported to Gardai that the defendant was outside her apartment kicking the front door and shouting threats. On another date he had sent her a text message saying “you’d want to worry about that baby in your belly” and also told her “you’re dead”.

The man also faced a number of unrelated charges of criminal damage and theft. Sgt Kerins said they included the following – caught breaking into a nurse’s car at Our Lady’s Hospital and when she challenged him he kicked the side of the vehicle (20/11/2023); broke windows in the car of another nurse and was detected by blood left at the scene (27/11/23); he was found by Gardai in a drunken state at Clogherboy shouting into a house and calling on a man to come out and fight (01/01/2024) ’a call for Garda assistance by an ambulance crew at Metges Road, told Gardai to “f*** off” and started banging his head off the side of the patrol car (07/02/24); theft at Smyths Supermarket Kells (07/02/24); theft of perfume worth €34 at Johnstown shopping centre (13/02/24). The court was told defendant had previous convictions for criminal damage, burglary and public disorder.

Defending barrister Patrick Comerford said that the court would be appalled at what it had heard during the case. He said that his client was deeply ashamed of the remarks he had made to the woman. His client was in custody at the moment and was drug free and he asked the judge to give him an opportunity to mend his ways. Judge Catherine Hayden sentenced the defendant to a total of 14 months imprisonment.