Ireland Case No. 0207Controlling and coercive behaviour · Co. Westmeath · 1 Jan 2019
Former garda sentenced for coercive control of wife in Westmeath
David Reynolds, 45, a former garda, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to controlling and coercive behaviour over his wife Ashley Masterson from January 2019 to July 2022, during which he recorded conversations, installed a tracker on her phone, and restricted her movement. He was dismissed from An Garda Síochána in August 2026. On 2 October 2026 at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced him to 18 months suspended for eight years, ordered €10,000 in compensation, and imposed 18 months of probation supervision with anger management counselling.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted21 May
3 reports - Sentenced2 Oct
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- David Reynolds, 45, pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour over his wife Ashley Masterson from 1 January 2019 to 18 July 2022.
- Reynolds controlled the household finances, installed a tracker on his wife's phone, recorded her conversations, and ordered her to stay at home or locked her inside.
- The 13 hours of audio recordings captured arguments that became physical on both sides, with Reynolds sometimes sobbing after the arguments.
- When
- The offending ran from 1 January 2019 until 18 July 2022.
- Investigation
- Gardaí discovered 13 hours of audio recordings on Reynolds's phone when he was arrested.
- Charges
- Reynolds also pleaded guilty to falsifying a vehicle change-of-ownership document to avoid paying motor tax over four years.
- In court
- The case was heard at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Keenan Johnson.
- Sentence
- On 2 October 2026, Reynolds was sentenced to 18 months suspended for eight years, ordered to pay €10,000 in compensation, and required to complete 18 months of probation supervision and anger management counselling.
- For the motor tax charge, Reynolds will receive a Probation Act order if he donates €1,000 to the Garda Benevolent Fund.
- Other details
- Reynolds was dismissed from An Garda Síochána by Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly in August 2026 after being suspended without pay since his guilty plea in January.
- Ashley Masterson waived her right to anonymity and told the court the relationship left her emotionally scarred, financially destroyed, and with constant fatigue, stress, and anxiety.
- The judge said Reynolds had a serious anger management problem and that a garda is held to a higher standard than other members of the public.
52 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDavid Reynolds pleaded guilty to coercively controlling his wife. (rte.ie)
- whatReynolds controlled the finances, had a tracker on his wife's phone and expected her to stay at home. (rte.ie)
- whatThe recordings captured arguments that became physical. (rte.ie)
- whatReynolds ordered his wife to stay at home and stopped her from leaving. (irishtimes.com)
- whatReynolds accused his wife of lying or infidelity. (irishtimes.com)
- whatReynolds did not want his wife to see a friend he disapproved of. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIn the recordings, the couple could be heard shouting at each other with arguments becoming physical on both sides. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSome recordings continued after arguments during which Reynolds could be heard sobbing. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe installed a tracker on her phone and recorded her conversations (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe couple could be heard shouting at each other in recordings, with arguments becoming physical (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe controlling and coercive behaviour lasted over three years. (gript.ie)
- whatDavid Reynolds pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour over three years. (irishtimes.com)
- whatReynolds recorded conversations and installed a tracker on his wife's phone. (irishtimes.com)
- whatReynolds ordered his wife to stay at home or locked her inside. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offending ran from January 1st, 2019, until July 18th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationReynolds made 13 hours of audio recordings on his phone, which gardaí discovered when he was arrested. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe seizure of Reynolds's phone revealed 13 hours of recorded conversations. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeReynolds pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour from January 2019 until July 18, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour on Ashley Masterson from 1 January 2019 until 18 July 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeReynolds pleaded guilty to falsifying a vehicle change-of-ownership document to avoid paying motor tax over four years. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at Mullingar Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Keenan Johnson adjourned sentencing until October at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe is to be sentenced at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on 6 October 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceSentencing was adjourned until 6 October, and Reynolds was remanded on bail. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe maximum penalty is five years in prison and a fine of up to €10,000 (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHe avoided jail after pleading guilty. (gript.ie)
- sentenceReynolds received an 18-month sentence suspended for eight years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceReynolds was ordered to pay €10,000 in compensation. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceReynolds was ordered to comply with probation supervision for 18 months and attend anger management counselling. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceReynolds will receive a Probation Act order on the motor tax charge if he donates €1,000 to the Garda Benevolent Fund by next Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- otherReynolds has been suspended from An Garda Síochána since his guilty plea. (rte.ie)
- otherMasterson said she has been emotionally scarred by the relationship. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge said Reynolds had a serious anger management problem and the level of manipulation and control was an aggravating factor. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMasterson said the marriage left her with constant fatigue, stress and anxiety, emotionally scarred with massive trust issues. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMasterson said the ordeal left her financially destroyed while living in an apartment. (irishtimes.com)
- otherReynolds joined An Garda Síochána in 2003 and worked out of Dublin Castle in traffic policing before being transferred to the Westmeath division in 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- otherReynolds is currently suspended without pay since January and faces dismissal from the force. (irishtimes.com)
- otherReynolds obtained construction work and has become isolated. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBoth Reynolds and Masterson had to deal with mental health issues. (irishtimes.com)
- otherReynolds was the sole income earner in the household. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMasterson waived her right to anonymity, allowing Reynolds to be named. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDavid Reynolds was dismissed from An Garda Síochána by Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly at the start of August 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe had been suspended without pay since pleading guilty in January (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe had been a garda for 17 years, 10 of which commuting from the Midlands to Dublin Castle as a traffic officer (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe is now working in construction (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSome recordings continued after the arguments when Reynolds could be heard sobbing (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAshley Masterson waived her right to anonymity and told the court her ordeal left her emotionally scarred (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe accused is a former garda. (gript.ie)
- otherReynolds was dismissed from An Garda Síochána in August. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim impact statement was read into the court record at a hearing in May. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge said a garda is held to a higher standard than other members of the public. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 2 Oct2026Sacked garda spared jail for control and coercion of wife over three years
Sentencing details: 18-month sentence suspended for eight years, €10,000 compensation, 18 months probation supervision, anger management counselling. Reynolds also entered a plea to an unrelated charge of falsifying a vehicle change-of-ownership document to avoid motor tax over four years, facing a Probation Act order conditional on a €1,000 donation to the Garda Benevolent Fund.
convicted, David Reynolds, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Reynoldsvictim, Ashley Masterson, female, irish (judged from name)Ashley Masterson - 2 Oct2026Sacked garda spared jail for controlling and coercion of wife - Gript
Confirms Reynolds was spared jail; describes the behaviour as treating his wife like 'chattel'.
victim, femaleconvicted, David Reynolds, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Reynolds - 31 Aug2026Garda 'who treated wife like property' is sacked
Reports that Reynolds was dismissed from the force by Commissioner Justin Kelly at the start of August 2026, with details of the May hearing where the judge described his attitude to marriage, and Ashley Masterson's victim impact statement describing the emotional and financial impact.
convicted, David Reynolds, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Reynoldsvictim, Ashley Masterson, female, irish (judged from name)Ashley Masterson - 21 May2026Garda taped conversations with wife, put tracker on her phone and told her to stay at home
Guilty plea entered; sentencing adjourned to October. Details of the coercive behaviour (recordings, phone tracker, restricting movement) and the victim impact statement are provided.
victim, Ashley Masterson, female, irish (judged from name)Ashley Mastersonconvicted, David Reynolds, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Reynolds - 21 May2026Garda treated his wife like his property, court hears
Court report on the guilty plea and sentencing adjournment. It describes the control, the 13 hours of recordings, the victim impact statement and the judge's remarks. The article gives no date for the offending.
convicted, David Reynolds, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Reynoldsvictim, Ashley Masterson, female, irish (judged from name)Ashley Masterson