Wife assaulted in row over drying laundry 

By Eimear Dodd 

A man and his sister-in-law assaulted his wife following a row about drying laundry, a court has heard. 

The man (38) was convicted of two counts of assault causing harm and one count of common assault, while the woman (41) was convicted of two counts of assault causing harm at an address in Co. Dublin in August 2022 following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last month. 

An investigating garda told Stephen Montgomery BL, prosecuting, today that the man is the victim’s husband while the woman is married to his brother, and is the victim’s sister-in-law. 

The court heard both families live in the same house, and on the day in question, the woman and the victim argued upstairs about drying laundry. 

They came downstairs, and the woman complained to the man about his wife.

He then slapped the victim, who lost her balance before going to the kitchen. 

The woman was shouting at the victim, then the man pushed her before punching her face, neck and back. 

The victim told him, “Don’t beat me; I’m your wife”. 

She was then slapped by the woman, which caused her breathing difficulties.

The man went to the sitting room, and the woman then pushed the victim and pulled her hair. 

The woman called her brother-in-law back into the kitchen, where he pulled the victim’s hair and kicked her. 

The injured party put her head down to protect herself, and the man hit her on the back of the neck and then threw her against the back door. 

He told his wife to get out of the house, which she did. 

She then called gardai, who noticed discoloured swelling on her forehead, small cuts, and bruises when they arrived at the house a short time later. 

The victim was taken to hospital and treated for bruises and soft tissue injuries.

Photos of her injuries were handed to the court. 

The man was arrested and when interviewed, he denied the allegations.

Nothing of evidential value was obtained when the woman was interviewed. 

The victim left the home and has been living in emergency accommodation since then.

She and the man have children, one of whom tragically passed away shortly after this incident occurred. 

In a victim impact statement read to the court by prosecuting counsel, the injured party said she expected support, protection and care when she married, but instead, she got abuse, insults and beatings. 

She said the stress of the abuse has caused her health issues, and she couldn’t fully give herself to her children as she was “crushed and mentally drained”. 

She said she is isolated, has limited support and has developed trust issues. 

The victim said she worries the man will come back and it will happen again but she also feels guilty that her children are left without their father. 

The defendants have no previous convictions. 

A number of references were handed to the court on behalf of both defendants. Counsel asked the court to take into account the circumstances in which the offending occurred, how the trial was run and their client’s work histories. 

They told the court that their clients do not accept the verdicts of the jury, but have made €5,000 available to help the victim deal with any financial difficulties she may be facing. 

The court heard that the victim does not wish to accept this sum of money.    

Keith Spencer BL, for the man, told the court his client maintains he was upstairs at the time of the incident. 

He said there has been no contact between his client and the victim since this incident and that the man has been a good father and wishes to be present for his children in the future. 

Eimear Doocey BL, for the woman, submitted the offences fall in the lower range and the woman is unlikely to re-offend in the future.

Her client has caring responsibilities and documents were outlined to the court in relation to health issues facing her children. 

Having heard the facts, Judge Elma Sheahan noted the offer of the €5,000 and said she would adjourn the case until March 27, and directed the money to be brought to the court.