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. 0012Coercive control · Co. Westmeath · 2 Oct 2026

Former garda sentenced for coercive control of wife in Westmeath

David Reynolds, a former garda from Mullingar in Co Westmeath, pleaded guilty to coercively controlling his wife Ashley Masterson, a woman, between 1 January 2019 and 18 July 2022. The control involved tracking her, controlling her finances, using a phone tracker, and making 13 hours of audio recordings of arguments. At Mullingar Circuit Court on 2 October 2026, Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced Reynolds to an 18-month suspended sentence, suspended for eight years, ordered him to pay €10,000 in compensation to his former wife, and required him to complete an anger management course. A separate charge of falsifying a change of ownership document to avoid motor tax resulted in the Probation Act and a €1,000 payment to the Garda Benevolent Fund.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced2 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • David Reynolds, a former garda, pleaded guilty to coercively controlling his wife Ashley Masterson.
  • The control involved tracking his wife, controlling her finances, using a phone tracker, and making 13 hours of audio recordings of arguments.
Where
The offences took place in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
When
The period of coercive control ran from 1 January 2019 to 18 July 2022.
Charges
Reynolds was also charged with falsifying a change of ownership document to avoid motor tax.
In court
Sentencing took place at Mullingar Circuit Court on 2 October 2026 before Judge Keenan Johnson.
Sentence
  • Reynolds received an 18-month suspended sentence, suspended for eight years, €10,000 compensation to his former wife, and an anger management course.
  • The separate charge of falsifying a document resulted in the Probation Act and a €1,000 payment to the Garda Benevolent Fund.
Other details
Judge Keenan Johnson said Reynolds had a gross misconception of what marriage is and noted that incarceration would separate him from his children.

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Oct2026
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Former garda spared jail over coercive control of wife

    Sentencing at Mullingar Circuit Court: 18-month suspended sentence (suspended for 8 years), €10,000 compensation to former wife, anger management course. Separate charge of falsifying a change of ownership document to avoid motor tax resulted in the Probation Act and €1,000 to the Garda Benevolent Fund. Coercive control involved tracking, controlling finances, phone tracker, and 13 hours of audio recordings of arguments.

    convicted, David Reynolds, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Reynoldsvictim, Ashley Masterson, female, irish (judged from name)Ashley Masterson