A man who attacked his girlfriend in the creche where she worked by hitting her over the head with a child's chair has been given a suspended sentence at Dundalk Circuit Court.
Gavin Moran (30), Beechmount Drive, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to Sabrina Carroll (28), at the Redeemer Creche, Redeemer Primary School, Ard Easmuinn, Dundalk, on March 22nd, 2004.
The court heard the defendant had split from his partner days before the assault. The victim saw him arrive outside the creche and answered the door to him.
According to Garda Susan Naughton, the defendant began shouting at her and lifted a classroom chair with steel legs and, "using it as a weapon", struck her across the face with it.
She was treated in hospital for swelling to her face and neck.
The garda told the court the injured party had made a full recovery and the couple's relationship was back on track.
The defence barrister said his client accepted responsibility for "his outrageous behaviour".
The injured party took the stand and said she had been with Moran since she was 17 and would not have done so if she was in fear of him.
Judge Pat McCartan said it was a cowardly attack and imposed an 18-month jail term, but suspended it for five years on condition Moran enter into a bond to be of good behaviour.