Ireland Colin Curtis given suspended sentence for vodka-fuelled assault on girlfriend in Ennis
On 26 May 2023, Colin Curtis, a 38-year-old man, assaulted his then girlfriend for about an hour at an apartment on Parnell Street, Ennis, Co Clare, after drinking vodka. The woman escaped on foot and reached the local Garda station at 11.55pm with bruises on her body, and gardaí found blood spatters at the apartment. Curtis pleaded guilty at Ennis Circuit Court to assault causing harm and threatening to kill. On 30 July 2024, Judge Francis Comerford imposed a wholly suspended sentence of two years and six months, and the victim did not attend the hearing or give a victim impact statement.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced30 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The assault on the woman was vodka-fuelled and lasted one hour.
- The woman escaped the apartment on foot and ran to the local Garda station at 11.55pm.
- She presented at the Garda station with bruises all over her body.
- Investigation
- Gardaí found blood spatters inside the door and around the kitchen at the apartment.
- Where
- The assault occurred at an apartment on Parnell Street, Ennis, Co Clare.
- When
- The assault took place on 26 May 2023.
- Charges
- Colin Curtis pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and threatening to kill the woman.
- In court
- The case was heard at Ennis Circuit Court before Judge Francis Comerford.
- Sentence
- Judge Comerford imposed a wholly suspended sentence of two years and six months on Curtis on 30 July 2024.
- Other details
- Curtis is 38 and moved to Ireland from the UK in 1999, previously living in Dublin and Galway before moving to Co Clare.
- Curtis had 25 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, and none for this type of offence.
- The judge cited mitigation including Curtis's remorse, his work on his alcohol addiction, his employment, and the €4,500 he brought to court for the victim.
- The victim did not attend either day of the sentencing hearing and did not provide a victim impact statement.
- The judge described the assault as a horrendous assault and an instance of domestic violence.
15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe assault was vodka-fuelled and lasted one hour. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman escaped the apartment on foot and ran to the local Garda station at 11.55pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe presented at the Garda station with bruises all over her body. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí found blood spatters inside the door and around the kitchen at the apartment. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault occurred at an apartment on Parnell Street, Ennis. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe assault took place on 26 May 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCurtis pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and threatening to kill. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at Ennis Circuit Court before Judge Francis Comerford. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCurtis was given a suspended sentence of two years and six months. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCurtis moved to Ireland from the UK in 1999 and had lived in Dublin and Galway before moving to Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCurtis had 25 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, but no previous convictions for this type of offence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCurtis brought €4,500 to court for his victim. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCurtis was addressing his alcohol addiction and had obtained work. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim was not in court for either day of the sentencing hearing and did not provide a victim impact statement. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge said the mitigation features touched the exceptional circumstances where a wholly suspended sentence could be imposed. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Jul2024Man who beat up his girlfriend during ‘horrendous’ vodka-fuelled assault escapes jail sentence
Sentencing report: Judge Francis Comerford imposed a wholly suspended sentence of two years and six months, citing exceptional mitigation including Curtis's remorse, addressing his alcohol addiction, obtaining work, and bringing €4,500 to court for the victim. The judge described the incident as 'a horrendous assault' and an instance of domestic violence.
victim, femaleconvicted, Colin Curtis, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Colin Curtis