Sunday 1 November 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. 22652Assault causing harm · Co. Dublin

Man given fully-suspended two-year sentence for assault on partner in Dublin hotel

Matthew Telford, 32, of Downpatrick, Co. Down, was given a fully-suspended two-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting his then-partner at the Carlton Hotel in Tyrrelstown, Dublin, in August 2019, causing her to break her wrist. The judge described the attack as 'unprovoked, shameful and cowardly' but said Telford was unlikely to offend again.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced24 Jan
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
33 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHe grabbed her by the hair, threw her onto the floor, and continued to slap and kick at her legs. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe woman tripped and extended her left arm to break her fall, badly breaking her wrist. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe wrist injury later required surgery to insert steel wires. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe woman was found visibly injured with redness to her face and neck, holding her left arm. (rte.ie)
  • whatMatthew Telford, 32, is from Armeed Green, Downpatrick, Co. Down. (gript.ie)
  • whatTelford was slightly intoxicated at the time of the assault. (gript.ie)
  • whatThe woman tripped and broke her wrist badly, requiring surgery to insert steel wires. (gript.ie)
  • whatJudge Nolan described the incident as an unprovoked, shameful and cowardly attack. (gript.ie)
  • whatJudge Nolan stated his belief that Telford was unlikely to offend again. (gript.ie)
  • whatTelford is now living with his mother and wrote an apology letter to the victim. (gript.ie)
  • whatTelford had €4,000 in court to offer the victim as compensation for her loss of earnings due to her wrist injury. (gript.ie)
  • whatThe woman made a statement to Gardaí several weeks after the incident, at which point Telford confessed to the attack. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe assault took place at the Carlton Hotel in Tyrrelstown, Dublin. (gript.ie)
  • whenTelford checked into the Carlton Hotel in Tyrrelstown with his then-partner on the evening of 13 August 2019. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe assault occurred in August 2019. (gript.ie)
  • investigationThe woman made a statement to gardaí a number of weeks later. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí had to make a request of the PSNI to speak to Telford as he was a resident in Co Down. (rte.ie)
  • investigationTelford agreed to meet gardaí and made admissions to the attack. (rte.ie)
  • courtTelford pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at the hotel on 13 August 2019. (rte.ie)
  • courtTelford pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the charge of assault causing harm. (gript.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Martin Nolan handed Telford two years in prison, fully-suspended. (gript.ie)
  • sentenceThe condition of the sentence was that Telford give the woman €4,000 compensation and a further €5,000 over the next two years. (gript.ie)
  • otherThey were at the hotel with a number of other couples. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe woman's 11-year-old son had turned on the air conditioning in the room. (rte.ie)
  • otherHer four-year-old son was also staying with them. (rte.ie)
  • otherTelford asked the boy to turn off the air conditioning and an argument broke out. (rte.ie)
  • otherTelford has no previous convictions. (rte.ie, gript.ie)
  • otherThe woman's older son ran down to the hotel reception to get help from staff during the assault. (rte.ie)
  • otherTelford left the hotel but returned later. (rte.ie)
  • otherTelford is now living with his mother. (rte.ie)
  • otherHe had written a letter of apology to the woman. (rte.ie)
  • otherHe had €4,000 in court to offer her to compensate for her loss of earnings. (rte.ie)
  • otherAlcohol played a factor in the assault. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jan2023
    Sentencedgript.ie, its first report
    Man who assaulted woman in front of her children avoids jail - Gript

    Reports the sentencing of Matthew Telford for assault causing harm, including details of the attack, the victim's wrist injury, and the fully-suspended sentence with compensation conditions.

    victim, femaleconvicted, Matthew Telford, 32, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Matthew Telford
  2. 24 Jan2023
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Suspended sentence for man who attacked ex-partner

    Provides full details of the sentencing hearing including the specific injuries (broken wrist requiring surgery to insert steel wires), the role of the two children as witnesses, the PSNI request to interview Telford in Co Down, the judge's remarks, and the conditions of the suspended sentence.

    victim, femaleconvicted, Matthew Telford, 32, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Matthew Telford