Wednesday 28 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. 6991Coercive control · Co. Dublin

Former garda jailed for coercive control of partner, Dublin

Paul Moody, a former garda, pleaded guilty to coercive control of his on-off partner Nicola, a 44-year-old Dublin-born hairdresser. The incident dates are not given in the sources. He was sentenced to three years and three months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 2022, and the court separately removed his guardianship of their son at Nicola's application. In December 2023 Nicola spoke publicly about her account ahead of an RTÉ One documentary.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced3 Dec
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Paul Moody, a former garda, was jailed for coercive control of his on-off partner Nicola.
Charges
Moody pleaded guilty to coercive control.
In court
  • The sentence hearing was held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
  • The court heard that Moody sent Nicola around 30,000 texts, which were described in court as vile.
Sentence
Moody was jailed for three years and three months.
When
The sentence was passed in 2022, according to articles published in December 2023.
Where
The case concerns a beach and Nicola's apartment in Dublin.
Other details
  • Nicola, 44, a Dublin-born hairdresser, says Moody left her to crawl off a beach when she was eight months pregnant.
  • Nicola says Moody choked and assaulted her when she refused him sex.
  • Nicola says Moody threw two litres of water over her.
  • Nicola says Moody smashed up and stripped her apartment, including the nursery, and stole everything.
  • Nicola successfully applied to court to have Moody's guardianship of their son removed.
  • Moody joined An Garda Síochána in 2000 and was suspended from duty in 2021.
  • In December 2023 Nicola spoke publicly about her account ahead of an RTÉ One documentary.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatPaul Moody was jailed for coercive control of his on-off partner Nicola. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMoody left Nicola on a beach when she was eight months pregnant. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatMoody smashed up Nicola's apartment and stole everything. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMoody threw two litres of water over Nicola. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeMoody pleaded guilty to coercive control. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • courtMoody's sentence hearing was held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMoody sent Nicola around 30,000 texts. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe court heard Moody sent Nicola around 30,000 texts. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtMoody's messages were described in court as vile. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtNicola successfully went to court to have Moody's guardianship of their son removed. (dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceMoody was jailed for three years and three months. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentencePaul Moody was jailed for three years and three months for the coercive control of his on-off partner Nicola. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherNicola went to court to have Moody's guardianship of their son removed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMoody joined An Garda Siochana in 2000 and was suspended from duty in 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMoody joined An Garda Siochana in 2000 but was suspended from duty in 2021. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherMoody assaulted Nicola when she rejected his sexual advances. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherMoody stripped the entire apartment, including the nursery. (dublinlive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Dec2023
    Sentenceddublinlive.ie, first report
    Dublin woman terrorised by garda while she battled cancer 'lucky to be alive'

    Feature on a documentary about a previously sentenced case, with the victim's account of the abuse. No new incident or court development is reported.

    convicted, Paul Moody, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Moodyvictim, Nicola, 44, irish (judged from name)Nicola
  2. 3 Dec2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Woman terrorised by garda as she battled stage 4 cancer opens up about ordeal

    Feature based on the victim's account ahead of an RTE documentary. It adds detail on the abuse and the sentence but gives no incident date. The sentence hearing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

    victim, Nicola, 44, female, irish (judged from name)Nicolaconvicted, Paul Moody, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Moody