by Andrew Carey
WHEN a Limerick man saw a picture of his partner with former World Champion snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan in a local newspaper, he beat her with a baseball bat, breaking her arm and threatening her with a knife in front of their three-year old son.
Limerick Circuit Court was told that Nigel Price, 22, was living with his partner Vanessa Devereaux, and their three-year old son, at Johnsgate Villas in Limerick city during a six-year ‘on and off’ relationship.
On March 1 last year, they were in their home when the little boy showed Price a picture of Ms Devereaux with snooker ace Ronnie O’Sullivan at local charity event.
Fuelled by drink and Xanax, Price got irate and accused Ms Devereaux of being unfaithful and beat her with a baseball bat, breaking her arm in what Gardaí described as a “prolonged attack”.
Such was the level of violence, he broke the baseball bat in two.
Price’s mother called the Gardaí when she saw the condition of the young mother who was visibly injured and traumatised.
Price was arrested, charged and remanded in custody the following day as he opted not to apply for bail.
Ms Devereaux told Gardaí that Price threatened to stab her with a pizza knife in front of their young son who was screaming throughout the ordeal.
The court heard that Price pulled Ms Devereaux’s hair so hard that her scalp bled. She was treated in hospital for her broken arm and other injuries.
The young mother, who was also locked in to the house for several hours, told of her fear and the effect the incident had on her.
Nigel Price admitted the assault and told Gardaí that he had taken 20 Xanax tablets which he had obtained on prescription. He said had no recollection of what he had done.
“If she said I did it, then I did it. I love her though”, he said.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge O’Donnell said that Ms Devereaux’s victim impact statement made for profound and “harrowing reading”. It was an “outrageous attack on a woman over a protracted period”.
“I just hope that there is no psychological damage caused to the young boy as a result of what was witnessed”, the judge added.
Several letters were handed in to court expressing the remorse shown by the 22-year-old along with a letter from his mother.
Imposing a six year sentence with the final year suspended, Judge O’Donnell said it was “very disturbing to say the least”.
He also ordered that Nigel Price be under the supervision and direction of the Probation Services for two years after he is released from prison.
