A MAN who jumped up and down on the bonnet of his aunt’s car while she sat terrified inside was jailed for five months by a Limerick court.
When the matter first came before the District Court in Kilmallock, Judge Patricia Harney heard that the accused, Alick Staunton (36), of Ashill, Kilmallock, was one of a number of people involved in an incident outside the home of his aunt, Elizabeth Staunton, of Ballynaught, Bruree, on September 4, 2020.
The court heard that Ms Staunton had suffered injuries in an attack during the incident, not from her nephew but from others involved.
Mr Staunton’s part was to jump up and down on the bonnet of Ms Staunton’s car while she sat helpless inside, causing damage which cost €5,800 to repair, the court heard.
Judge Harney had previously adjourned sentencing in the matter to give the accused time to pay compensation and explore whether there was a possibility of restorative justice.
However Mr Staunton had failed to turn up for the adjourned court dates on a number of occasions and there were warrants issued for his arrest.
Ms Staunton returned to court this week to give further evidence and when the judge asked her how thing were, she replied: “I’m a prisoner in my home. I’m afraid to go out. When I do go out, if I meet him, he gives me the finger and swerves his car towards me.”
Asked by the judge if she had received any compensation for the damage, Ms Staunton that that she “had nothing from him. No money, no apology. Nothing.”
Mr Staunton’s solicitor, Robin Lee, asked the witness how far she now lived from the accused, to which she replied that he lives around 10 kilometers away.
Asked when the car swerving incident happened, as Mr Staunton protested from the body of the court that he doesn’t drive, she said that it “happened four or five times, shortly after the court case”.
In mitigation, Mr Lee said his client did not instigate the incident but came upon it “and got involved. He should not have but he did.”
Judge Harney said that while Mr Staunton was not charged or convicted with assault, she had seen pictures of Ms Staunton’s injuries which were “appalling”.
The accused before her, the judge said, was “jumping up and down on the bonnet of her car while she was still inside it. Given that this involves family, I gave him every opportunity to pay compensation or to engage in the restorative process but he has done nothing.”
“He is an aggressive and pugnacious person who has had numerous bench warrants and has no regard whatever for the judicial process.”
Judge Harney sentenced Mr Staunton to five months in jail and set bail on condition that he stay away from Ms Staunton and her home.
Mr Lee protested the condition, pointing out that Mr Staunton’s father lives next door to the victim.
“Then he can meet his father somewhere else,” Judge Harney replied.
