Suspended sentence for ‘horrific’ attack on woman in the Midlands

A suspended sentence was handed down to a man who told a woman she’d be found with her throat slit while he kicked and punched her in a “horrific” attack.

Paul Corbett, 37, of 35 Melrose, Nenagh, Co Tipperary told his victim “your kids are going to find you upstairs with your throat slit” during the attack in Portlaoise on September 12 last year. 

Sgt JJ Kirby said the victim and the man returned to a house on the date in question and a verbal argument ensued. He said the man became “extremely aggressive and violent” and kicked and punched the woman while telling her she’d be found by her kids with her throat slit. 

Sgt Kirby said the woman was left with bruising across the chest and legs following the assault. He said the man has no previous convictions. 

Defence solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was “extremely ashamed and sorry for what had happened on the night.” 

He “woke up the next morning and could not believe what had happened,” he said. He noted the “trauma and fright he visited on the girl.” 

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Mr Meagher said his client had been under considerable pressure at the time and drank far too much. “He acted out in an appalling fashion, Judge,” said Mr Meagher. He said the man took immediate steps after the incident. 

He has a letter of apology for the victim, her neighbours and the court. He brought €2,000 for the victim as a sign of remorse. He said the man had also undergone programmes in anger management, domestic violence and had given up drink completely in order “that he will never go to that dark place again.”

Mr Meagher described his client as a very hard working man who appeared “before the court with his head very bowed and ashamed at what happened”. 

On hearing the details, Judge Andrew Cody said “your client needs to consider the offer of compensation again.” He told Mr Meagher to talk to the man and said he would hear the case later in the day. 

When the case was called again, Mr Meagher said his client had €4,000 for the victim. When asked about the letter of apology to the neighbours, he said, “the victim left and called to the neighbours and unfortunately the behaviour continued at that address.”

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Judge Cody said “this is a very difficult case.”  He said the man is 37 and has no previous convictions but “the poor woman was kicked and punched and threatened” with have her throat slit.  “It is just a horrendous incident,” he said. 

However, Judge Cody told the court actions speak louder than words. He noted the man has undergone 24 sessions of therapy, a programme on drugs and violence, a drug and alcohol awareness course and presents as “profoundly sorry for what he did”.

“It is a horrific attack. It is not something I can deal with in a light manner,” he said. He sentenced the man to two months in prison but suspended the sentence for two years. 

Judge Cody told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the man had shown “genuine remorse and taken appropriate action.”