Thursday 29 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. 11181Non-fatal strangulation, assault causing harm, false imprisonment · Co. Louth

Louth man jailed for six years over assault on pregnant partner

Matthew King, a 25-year-old man, is reported to have assaulted his partner, a woman who was eight months pregnant, at Rassan, Hackballscross, County Louth, where he was living in a caravan; no incident date is given. Gardaí had been looking for him until he presented himself at Dundalk Garda Station in March 2025. He pleaded guilty to non-fatal strangulation, assault causing harm, false imprisonment and production of a metal bar, with the plea reported as made on 24 April 2024, and at Dundalk Circuit Court he was jailed for six years, with the sentences backdated to 15 March of the previous year, as reported on 3 February 2026.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The defendant choked and strangled the woman during the assault.
  • The defendant poured bleach on the woman's head and then poured heating oil over her.
  • The defendant urinated on the woman when she refused to perform a sex act on him.
  • The woman suffered cuts to her body, black eyes and an acute kidney injury.
  • The woman woke to find the caravan on fire and climbed out a window.
Where
The attack happened at Rassan, Hackballscross, County Louth, where the defendant was living in a caravan.
Weapon
The defendant beat the woman about the legs with a metal bar, described in one report as an iron bar.
Investigation
Gardaí had been looking for the defendant, who presented himself at Dundalk Garda Station in March 2025.
Charges
The defendant was charged with non-fatal strangulation, assault causing harm, false imprisonment and production of a metal bar, and pleaded guilty to all four, with the plea reported as made on 24 April 2024.
In court
The case was heard at Dundalk Circuit Court, where Judge Dara Hayes described the attack as savage, cruel and prolonged, with the victim eight months pregnant.
Sentence
  • The defendant was jailed for six years, with concurrent sentences of six years and eight months for the first two offences and three years and three months for the third.
  • The final eight months were suspended subject to conditions, including no direct or indirect contact with the victim.
  • The sentences were backdated to 15 March of the previous year, when the defendant went into custody.
Other details
The defendant had 60 previous convictions, 36 of them from Northern Ireland.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe defendant choked and strangled the woman during the assault. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant poured bleach on the woman's head and then poured heating oil over her. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant urinated on the woman when she refused to perform a sex act on him. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe woman suffered cuts to her body, black eyes and an acute kidney injury. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe woman woke to find the caravan on fire and climbed out a window. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe attack happened at Rassan, where the defendant was living in a caravan. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • weaponThe defendant beat the woman about the legs with a metal bar. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationGardaí had been looking for the defendant, who presented himself at Dundalk Garda Station in March 2025. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe defendant pleaded guilty to non-fatal strangulation, assault causing harm, false imprisonment and production of a metal bar. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was jailed for six years. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed concurrent sentences of six years and eight months for the first two offences and three years and three months for the third. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe final eight months were suspended subject to conditions, including no direct or indirect contact with the victim. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentences were backdated to March 15 of the previous year, when the defendant went into custody. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherJudge Dara Hayes described the attack as savage, cruel and prolonged, with the victim eight months pregnant. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had 60 previous convictions, 36 of them from Northern Ireland. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Feb2026
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Louth man jailed for beating his pregnant partner with an iron bar

    First report of the sentencing at Dundalk Circuit Court; no existing case in the list matches this Louth incident.

    convicted, Matthew King, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Kingvictim, female