Ireland Man sentenced for coercive control and assault in Dublin
A man was sentenced at the Central Circuit Criminal Court in Dublin after pleading guilty to coercive control and assault causing harm against his ex-wife, a woman in her 30s. The couple had an arranged marriage in 2019, after which she gave up her high-level job and moved to Dublin, where he restricted her food, limited the heating, installed cameras, and isolated her from family and friends. On or about January 27th, 2020, he grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back at their Dublin home, causing pain, swelling and bruising. A jury had been empanelled and a trial had begun before he entered his guilty pleas, and Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo imposed a 12-month sentence for coercive control and a concurrent six-month term for the assault, both suspended in full on strict conditions for two years. The woman later said he had destroyed her life yet was now free.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced28 Jul
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- On or about January 27th, 2020, the man grabbed the woman by the arm and twisted it behind her back at their Dublin home, causing pain, swelling and bruising.
- The man restricted the woman's food intake, limited the heating in winter months, installed cameras that fed to his phone, and told her to remain inside.
- When
- The couple had an arranged marriage in 2019, and the woman, who was 27, gave up her high-level job and moved to Dublin.
- Other details
- The woman felt isolated from her extended family and had no friends in Ireland; while the man was away for work, she stayed with his brother and mother.
- The woman later said he had destroyed her life yet was now free, and the Women's Aid chief executive called for analysis of coercive control sentencing.
- Charges
- The man pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on or about January 27th, 2020, and one count of coercive control.
- In court
- A jury was empanelled and a trial began before the man entered his guilty pleas, which were accepted by the victim; the case was heard at the Central Circuit Criminal Court.
- Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo accepted the assault was not premeditated.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to 12 months for coercive control and a concurrent six-month term for the assault, both suspended in full on strict conditions for two years.
26 statements extracted from the articles
- whatOn or about January 27th, 2020, the man grabbed the woman by the arm and twisted it behind her back, resulting in pain, swelling and bruising. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe ex-husband grabbed the woman's arm and twisted it behind her back at their Dublin home. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman was not allowed to use the heating in winter months. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe woman was arranged to marry the man in 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe woman moved to Dublin in her late 20s. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on or about January 27th, 2020, at their Dublin home. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to one count of coercive control. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe ex-husband admitted coercive control and assault causing harm at court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury was empanelled earlier this year and a trial began. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Kerida Naidoo accepted the assault was not premeditated. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at the Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe imposed a sentence of six months for the assault and a concurrent term of 12 months for the coercive control. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe suspended the 12-month term in full on strict conditions for two years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe received a 12-month sentence for coercive control and six months for assault to run concurrently. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe sentences were suspended in full on strict conditions for two years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe couple had an arranged marriage in 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman gave up her high-level job and moved to Ireland where her husband had lived most of his life. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman felt isolated from her extended family and did not have any friends in Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman was left isolated in the house and told she should remain inside. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHer daily food intake was restricted along with the heating in the house. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman was 27 when she got married. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man travelled for work and would be away for long periods of time. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman would stay with his brother and mother while he was away. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman is now in her 30s. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCoercive control became a criminal offence in 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe maximum sentence for coercive control is five years. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 29 Aug2025Woman says ex-husband deserved tougher sentence for coercive control and assault
Victim speaks out about the impact of the abuse and questions the adequacy of the fully suspended sentence; Women's Aid chief executive calls for analysis of coercive control sentencing.
victim, 30s, female, non-irish (judged from name)convicted, male - 28 Jul2025Man who restricted wife’s food and home heating gets 12-month suspended sentence, court hears
Sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court; the man pleaded guilty after a jury had been empanelled and a trial had begun; the 12-month coercive control term was suspended in full on strict conditions for two years.
convicted, malevictim, female, non-irish (judged from name)