By Ronan Judge 

A man has been jailed for ten months – for holding a pillow over his former partner’s face and continuing to assault her as gardai entered the bedroom.

The man pleaded guilty at Ballinasloe District Court, to assault causing harm to the woman, contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against The Person Act, as amended.

As the case involves a domestic violence offence, the parties involved cannot be identified to protect the victim.

The defendant also admitted breaching a safety order, contrary to Section 33 of the Domestic Violence Act. These offences took place at a property in South Galway on August 18, 2025.

Outlining the facts of the case, Garda David Niland told the court that around 6.30pm in the night in question, the victim locked herself into a bedroom to get away from her partner.

The court heard that at one stage the door was opened, and the man grabbed the woman, pulling her into a bedroom and putting a pillow over her head.

Gardai could near the woman screaming when they arrived at the scene and Garda Niland said that when he gained access to the room, he saw the man sitting on top of the woman and punching her in the face.

Sergeant Christy Browne told the court the man has previous convictions for assault, assault causing harm and breach of a domestic violence order.

Judge James Faughnan adjourned the case for a brief period to confirm the maximum sentence for the Section 33 offence and was later told it is twelve months in prison.

Defence solicitor, Gearoid Geraghty told the court his client has lived in Ireland for a considerable period and after losing his job, “took to alcohol as a comfort”.

Mr Geraghty said his client accepts responsibility for what happened, has been in custody since his arrest in August and his instructions were not to apply for bail.

He asked the court to take into account the guilty pleas that were of some value to the State and the victim as it meant the case did not got to hearing.

Mr Geraghty said his client apologies to the victim and accepts he is going to prison.

Judge Faughnan imposed two consecutive five-month prison sentences and said the court noted the assault continued while gardai were in the room.

He said the court also noted the victim in this case is the same victim in the previous domestic violence offence. The sentence was backdated to August when the man went into custody.

■ Funded by Courts Reporting Scheme.