Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20618Assault · Co. Limerick · 20 Jul 2018

Convicted killer jailed for choking woman in Limerick assault

On the evening of 20 July 2018, Kevin Coughlan, a 40-year-old man, was at a woman's home in Limerick, where the prosecution said he choked her in her bedroom until she lost consciousness. Gardaí retrieved Facebook messages between the parties during the investigation. Coughlan, who has previous convictions including manslaughter, pleaded guilty to assault at Limerick Circuit Court. In June 2023, Judge Tom O'Donnell imposed a three and a half year prison sentence with the final 18 months suspended, and ordered 18 months' Probation Service supervision after release.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced21 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Kevin Coughlan, aged 40, grabbed the woman by the throat and choked her to the point of losing consciousness.
  • Coughlan spat in the woman's face and said he had done it before and would do it again.
Weapon
The prosecution said Coughlan smashed a picture frame over the woman's head, but his defence said he emphatically denies hitting her with a picture frame.
Where
The assault took place in the woman's bedroom at her home in Limerick.
When
The woman had invited Coughlan to her home on the evening of 20 July 2018.
Cause
According to the prosecution, Coughlan was intoxicated and agitated when he arrived, and the assault followed the woman helping him into bed and changing sheets after he urinated on them.
Other details
  • The assault occurred in the presence of young children.
  • The woman attended her GP with a throbbing ear, insomnia and aches and pains.
  • Coughlan has previous convictions including robbery, burglary, criminal damage, assault causing harm and manslaughter, and was previously sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for manslaughter.
Investigation
Gardaí retrieved Facebook messages between the parties as part of the investigation.
Charges
Coughlan pleaded guilty to assault.
In court
Judge Tom O'Donnell at Limerick Circuit Court described the assault as abhorrent.
Sentence
  • Judge Tom O'Donnell imposed a three and a half year jail sentence with the final 18 months suspended, conditional on Coughlan being of good behaviour for three and a half years.
  • Coughlan is to be under the care of the Probation Service for 18 months after release, and the criminal damage charge was taken into consideration.
18 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatCoughlan smashed a picture frame over the woman's head, according to the prosecution. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatCoughlan grabbed the woman by the throat and choked her to the point of her losing consciousness. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatCoughlan spat in the woman's face and said he had done it before and would do it again. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe assault took place in the woman's bedroom. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe woman invited Coughlan to her home on the evening of 20 July 2018. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí retrieved Facebook messages between the parties as part of the investigation. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtCoughlan pleaded guilty to assault. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge described the assault as abhorrent. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Tom O’Donnell imposed a three and a half year jail sentence with the final 18 months suspended. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe suspension is conditional on Coughlan being of good behaviour for three and a half years. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe criminal damage charge was taken into consideration. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceCoughlan is to be under the care of the Probation Service for 18 months after release. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherCoughlan was intoxicated and agitated when he arrived, according to the prosecution. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe assault occurred in the presence of young children. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe woman attended her GP with a throbbing ear, insomnia and aches and pains. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherCoughlan's defence said he emphatically denies hitting the woman with a picture frame but accepts the act was despicable. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherCoughlan has previous convictions including robbery, burglary, criminal damage, assault causing harm and manslaughter. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherCoughlan was previously sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for manslaughter. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Jun2023
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Convicted killer jailed for choking woman in Limerick assault

    Reports the sentencing at Limerick Circuit Court of Kevin Coughlan for choking and assaulting a woman in her bedroom in 2018, including the prosecution account, the defence position, the judge's remarks, the sentence and probation supervision. Also notes his previous convictions, including manslaughter.

    convicted, Kevin Coughlan, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kevin Coughlanvictim, female