A man who subjected his girlfriend to what a judge described as "a ferocious and savage beating" was sentenced to three years' jail at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
During the attack, which started in a bar and ended in a field, the woman was beaten, kicked and punched in the face and eventually fell and broke her ankle.
Donal Murphy (24), of Ballinure Place, Mahon, Cork, pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Elaine Hayes, Ringmahon Road, Cork, causing actual bodily harm on April 27th, 1996.
Their relationship had since ended, the court was told.
He also admitted attempting to rob Mrs Vera Crowley, a shopkeeper, at Sunday's Well Road, Cork, on January 2nd last year.
The court heard he leapt on to the shop counter and brandished a knife before trying to open the till. Mrs Crowley's husband, daughter and a passing motorist intervened.
Mr David Goldberg, defending, said Murphy, a father of three, was a drug abuser, but was capable of leading a "normal" life when not on drink and drugs.
He was currently serving a 30month jail term imposed last November and had signed on the prison drug treatment programme. He urged Judge Patrick Moran to impose a jail term which would end with the present sentence.
Judge Moran said he could not do so as the offences were too serious. He imposed three-year terms concurrent on the charges.