A LIMERICK woman broke down in the witness box in court as she described how her sense of security had been shattered when her ex-partner broke a court safety order.
The woman, who cannot be named to protect her identity, told Judge Patricia Haney in Kilmallock District Court how the incident in May of last year has changed how she views her world.
“I live in a very safe housing estate. My front door was always unlocked and my windows were always open,” she said.
But since May of last year, when her former partner breached the court order, the mother of one said she has looked all of her doors and windows and had a security system installed.
“I’ve changed all my electronic devices and my social media. I was never worried about my security before, but now I worry all the time. All I see is harm all around me.”
Judge Harney asked the woman, who was supported in court by a representative of the Adapt House refuge service, what she would like the court to do to help her?
“I have faith in the justice system. But I feel that once this (court hearing) is over today he will be back at my door again,” she responded.
Judge Harney heard that the man is question was admitting the breach.
His solicitor told the court that there were no previous charges against him and there had been no further contact since May 22.
“He is a working man. He accepts full responsibility for what he did,” he said.
No details of what occurred to amount to a breach of the order were given in court.
Asked what would happen regarding access for the accused to the woman’ young child, the woman said that the child was not the man’s and no access matters arose.
“Then there is no reason for him to contact her,” Judge Harney said.
“I am putting him on probation with one condition only, that he has no contact with the victim – and by contact I mean any kind of contact, by third party, social media, or electronic means.”
