Man who carried out “horrific attack” on his then partner has been jailed for four years

By Niamh O’Donoghue

A man who carried out a “horrific attack” on his then partner has been jailed for four years.

Colm Carroll (27) of Issacs Hostel, Frenchman’s Lane, Dublin pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm at George’s Hill, Dublin 7, on February 26, 2025. He has 186 previous convictions.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that, despite pleading guilty, Carroll disputed the facts of the case and said he also received injuries in the incident.

Passing sentence, Judge Sheahan said Carroll carried out a “horrific attack” on his then partner, who remains “deeply traumatised”.

Judge Sheahan said the court was proceeding to sentence Carroll on the basis that he had pleaded guilty to the charges as prosecuted on the evidence in the book of evidence.

The judge said it was aggravating that Carroll was on bail at the time, that he had a previous conviction for assault and that it occurred in the context of an intimate relationship.

Judge Sheahan noted the contents of Carroll’s letter, adding that the court accepted his remorse was genuine.

She said the court also took into account Carroll’s guilty plea, family support, their concerns for him and his attempt to address his addiction while in custody.

Judge Sheahan imposed a five-year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation supervision.

She said the court wished to incentivise Carroll to continue to address his addiction, which is at the root of his offending.

The judge said the court would ask the Probation Services to engage with Carroll six months before his release date, and directed him to follow their directions in relation to drug treatment programmes.

Garda Cian Reynolds previously told Jane McGowan BL, prosecuting, that Carroll was due for trial on May 5 last.

However, a plea was entered on the following day to two counts of assault causing harm, with a nolle prosequi to be entered to a false imprisonment charge.

Gda Reynolds said Carroll was in custody on this alone until March 2025, but was sentenced for another matter earlier this year.

Ciaran O’Loughlin SC, defending, said his client had a letter to hand in to the court in which he set out his version of events. Counsel said his client accepted it was an assault, but said he never kicked the injured party, and he himself received injuries in the incident.

“I’m after pleading guilty to a load of lies,” said Carroll.

“The prosecution does not accept that version of events,” said Ms McGowan.

The judge said the man had pleaded to the charge and told Mr O’ Loughlin to take instructions from his client.

Today, Mr O’Loughlin said his client does not wish to contest his guilty pleas but does dispute the circumstances of the offence.

Evidence was previously heard that Carroll tried to take the injured party’s prescription medication.

He grabbed her by the hair, pulled her to the ground and kicked her in the face.

He dragged her to the corner of the room while he held her down and continued to punch and kick her while demanding money from her.

At one point, she said she would get him money to appease him.

He got off her and dragged her back towards the room. She agreed to give him money, and they left the apartment.

They met a porter downstairs, and he approached the woman to see if she was alright. He followed Carroll and the injured party and asked him to leave.

The porter witnessed Carroll punch the woman in the mouth. Gardai arrived and noticed swelling to the woman’s face, and her bottom teeth were loose.

She went to the Mater Hospital to get medical attention, and there were injuries and pain all over her body.

There was swelling and bruising around her eye and grazes on her body.

Carroll made no admissions and exercised his right to silence.

He has 186 previous convictions, of which 77 were committed whilst on bail.

He was on bail at the time for 10 offences, including criminal damage, trespass, theft, and handling stolen property.

He has one assault conviction, one for aggravated burglary and eight for burglary.

In her victim impact statement, the woman said she had cuts and scrapes on her body.

She said it took three weeks for the swelling to go down, and her hair was matted for six weeks from being pulled.

She said she had damage to her bottom teeth.

She added new locks to her door.

She said she now gets triggered very easily, suffers from nightmares and gets scared easily of men.

Gda Reynolds accepted Mr O’Loughlin’s suggestion that “a violent incident like this is not the standard thing” on his client’s “colourful” list of past convictions.

Referring to his client’s letter to the court, Mr O’Loughlin said Carroll denies being in a relationship with the injured party, but accepts there is “no excuse for his behaviour”.

Carroll also stated in the letter that he wasn’t aware when he was being interviewed by gardai, that he should have given his account of events.

Mr O’Loughlin said his client does not deny liability or that he committed this assault, but says that while he used “excessive force,” he did not kick or punch anyone.

Counsel said his client is ashamed and embarrassed by his actions and has used his time in custody to address his addiction issues.

A letter from Carroll’s mother was handed to the court.