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. 3956Coercive control, attempted robbery · Co. Monaghan

Martin Ward, 27, jailed for four years over coercive control and attempted robbery in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan

Martin Ward, 27, of Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, was sentenced to four years in prison at Monaghan Circuit Court after pleading guilty to the coercive control of his wife Chantelle between 2019 and 2022 and an attempted robbery. Judge John Aylmer imposed three years for coercive control and two years and three months for attempted robbery, with 15 months suspended.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced29 Jan
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMs Ward had a laceration to her head after being attacked with a weapon by her husband. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAfter arrest, Mr Ward told gardaí he had downed 10 or 11 cans of Guinness and could not remember assaulting his wife. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe once left his wife with a black eye. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe slapped her in the face as she slept. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe kicked her in the stomach when she was pregnant with one of their children. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe threatened to stab her with a fork. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe took all her allowances and money to spend on alcohol for himself. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences occurred between 2019 and 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenOn 31 May 2021, Ms Ward arrived at Carrickmacross Garda station in a very distressed state. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMartin Ward pleaded guilty to the coercive control of his wife Chantelle between 2019 and 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe also pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge John Aylmer placed the offending at the upper end of the scale for coercive control. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed a sentence of three years for the coercive control. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed two years and three months for the attempted robbery, to run consecutive. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe final 15 months of the robbery sentence was suspended on condition of abstaining from drink and drugs and engaging with probation services. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe total sentence was four years. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMs Ward said she still suffers bad dreams over the abuse even though it had been over two years since she last saw him. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMs Ward stated she never wants to see Martin Ward again for the rest of her life. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMs Ward stated that leaving him was the best decision she ever made. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Jan2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man jailed for subjecting wife to years of coercive control and abuse

    Sentencing details at Monaghan Circuit Court, including the judge's reasoning, mitigation factors, and the victim impact statement.

    convicted, Martin Ward, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Wardvictim, female, irish (judged from name)