MAN JAILED FOR SUBJECTING WIFE TO YEARS OF COERCIVE CONTROL AND ABUSE
A man convicted of subjecting his wife to prolonged physical abuse and controlling her through coercion has been sentenced to a total of four years in prison.The judge described the actions as serious violence directed at an intimate partner.
During proceedings at Monaghan Circuit Court, it was recounted how Martin Ward’s wife once fled to a Garda station in her pyjamas, heavily bleeding after he attacked her with a weapon.
Martin Ward, 27, residing at The Elms, Lough na Glack, Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, admitted to coercively controlling his wife, Chantelle, between 2019 and 2022.
He also pleaded guilty to attempting a robbery.
Testimony revealed that Ward repeatedly attacked his wife, including an incident where she was left with a black eye, slapping her while she was asleep, and kicking her in the stomach during her pregnancy.
He also made threats to stab her with a fork.
Additionally, the court heard how he would take her phone to isolate her from her family and friends, and would seize her money and allowances to spend on alcohol for himself.
Prosecutor Frank Martin detailed to the court that these offences took place over a span of three years, from 2019 to 2022.
Retired Garda Sgt Anthony Flynn recounted an incident on May 31st, 2021, when Ms.
Ward arrived at Carrickmacross Garda station in distress, with a head injury from an attack involving a weapon, wearing blood-soaked pyjamas and barefoot.
Flynn stated that Ms.
Ward was so upset she could barely speak.
Following her husband’s arrest, Ward claimed he had consumed 10 or 11 cans of Guinness and could not remember assaulting his wife.
It was also revealed that Ms.
Ward eventually left her husband.
In a victim impact statement, she expressed ongoing trauma from the abuse, mentioning she still suffers nightmares about the incident.
She stated, “I never want to see Martin Ward again for the rest of my life.
Leaving him was the best decision I ever made.” Judge John Aylmer, sentencing Ward, noted that his behaviour was at the higher end of the severity scale for coercive control.
Since this offence carries a maximum penalty of five years, he considered a four-year sentence, but due to mitigating factors, including Ward’s guilty plea, lack of prior assault convictions, remorse expressed in a letter, and his participation in prison counselling, he settled on a three-year term for coercive control.
For the attempted robbery count, the judge sentenced him to two years and three months, to run consecutively.
He also suspended the remaining 15 months of that sentence conditionally, requiring Ward to stay sober and continue with probation.
The total custodial sentence amounted to four years, with the judge emphasising the seriousness of the offences.
