A jilted man who could not accept the end of his relationship brutally attacked his girlfriend and then sent her a series of vile text messages.
Kieran Callaghan poured drinks over Martina Mulhern, headbutted her and then harassed by sending a number of threatening text messages to her.
Callaghan, aged 34, appeared at Letterkenny District Court to allow Judge Paul Kelly to hear a victim impact statement from Ms Mulhern.
Although the relationship was brief, 33-year-old Callaghan could not accept the break-up and approached Ms MUlhern while out on a number of occasions.
On July 2nd, 2017 in the Warehouse Bar, he approached her on two occasions and poured two drinks over her head.
On July 17th, Ms Mulhern was socialising in the Voodoo Nightclub in Letterkenny when she was approached by Callaghan.
He headbutted the woman causing her swelling and bruising to her face.
Callaghan, of Garrison Hill in Killygordon, also admitted sending a series of disgusting text messages to his former girlfriend.
Garda Inspector Barry Doyle said the text messages were very offensive and included “F*** you tramp. You rotten piece of s***. I hope you die a painful one”, “You are a pathetic lowlife scumbag I never loved you” and “I hope you fall off a cliff.”
The court was told that Callaghan had previously appeared in court for breaking a window in Ms Mulhern’s home in Ardara on the night he poured drinks over her head
Solicitor for the accused, Mr Frank Dorrian, said Callaghan had tendered an apology to Ms Mulhern and that it was sincere.
He said his client had been distraught and had experienced emotions of hopelessness and despair after the couple’s break-up.
Judge Paul Kelly described Ms Mulhern’s victim impact statement as “powerful” and said the attacks had had a very serious impact on her life.
Details of Ms Mulhern’s statement were not read out in court but the court heard she had to undergo counselling as a result of the vicious attack by Callaghan.
As well as treatment for being physically injured, Ms Mulhern was also left out of work.
The total cost of having her glasses smashed as well as counselling and other treatment, Ms Callaghan was out of pocket in the sum of almost €1,200.
A further loss of earnings for her time of work amounted to a total of €29,498.
Judge Paul Kelly told Ms Mulhern that the maximum the district court could award in compensation was €15,000 and suggested she take a civil case against her attacker.
He granted an order of €1,170 against Callaghan to be paid to the victim in the case.
He fined Callaghan €250 for pouring drinks over Ms Mulhern at the Warehouse Bar in Letterkenny.
He then sentenced Callaghan to four months in prison for assaulting Ms Mulhern by headbutting her but suspended that sentence for two years.
He jailed him for a further period of four months for harassing Ms Mulhern by sending her threatening texts but also suspended that sentence for two years.
He also ordered him to attend a 12-month course in Sligo entitled Men Overcoming Emotional Violence and to refrain from drinking alcohol.