A Donegal man punched his girifriend, pulled her hair, kicked her and then threw her down the stairs.
Kathleen McGrory told Letterkenny District Court that she still lived in fear of her former boyfriend John Hegarty.
Hegarty, 31, with an address at 207 Harbour Court, Sligo was charged with assaulting Ms McGrory.
Solicitor Frank Dorrian said both parties had lived with eachother at the time of the alleged attack in Stranorlar and there was a lot of alcohol involved in their relationship.
Mr Dorrian said his client had been virtually abandoned at five years old and had faced a number of challenges In his life.
However since the assault on Ms McGrory, Hegarty had become very friendly with a nun who had taken him under her wing.
He has virtually cut out all alcohol and is back studying.
However Judge Paul Kelly said he was very concerned that Ms McGrory said she was still in fear of Hegarty.
He adjourned the case for a probation report until January 23rd next.