SEAN ROONEY FROM ARBROATH SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC DOMESTIC ABUSE IN DUNDEE

A man known for his aggressive and abusive behavior, Sean Rooney from Arbroath, has been sentenced to 44 months in prison after being found guilty of a series of severe domestic abuse crimes. The court heard that Rooney's actions included physical violence, emotional manipulation, and coercive control over two women over an extended period.

Rooney's violent conduct was described as both controlling and brutal, with incidents that left his victims traumatized. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Rooney had engaged in a relentless campaign of abuse that lasted for nearly two years against one woman, which culminated in December 2020. His abusive tactics included sending her hundreds of messages filled with threats and insults, urging her to take her own life, and physically assaulting her by lunging at her and applying pressure to her neck.

In addition to this, Rooney was also convicted of abusing a second woman between December 1, 2020, and July 3, 2021, at her residence in Arbroath. His violent acts during this period included repeatedly throwing lit cigarettes at her, spitting on her, slapping, pushing, and pulling her hair. He also made threatening statements, including threats to kill her and urging her to commit suicide, further demonstrating the extent of his controlling and violent behavior.

The court was particularly disturbed by an incident where Rooney throttled one of his victims in front of an eight-year-old child. The child was reportedly screaming at Rooney to stop his assault, which added a deeply troubling dimension to his crimes. Sheriff Paul Brown condemned Rooney’s actions, describing his behavior as “utterly reprehensible.” The sheriff emphasized that Rooney showed little remorse and attempted to shift blame onto his victims. He highlighted the seriousness of the case, especially noting the fact that the abuse occurred in front of a young child who was pleading for the violence to cease.

As part of the court’s ruling, Rooney was declared a continuing danger to women and was banned from contacting either of his victims for a period of 25 years. Furthermore, he is prohibited from entering into any new romantic relationships without first informing social workers of his intentions. The sheriff also pointed out that Rooney’s conduct demonstrated a significant lack of insight and remorse, warranting a lengthy custodial sentence to protect others from further harm.

Stewart Duncan, the fiscal depute, explained that Rooney and his first victim had been involved in an on-and-off relationship for approximately four years. Throughout this period, Rooney exerted extreme control over her, including sending threatening messages such as “Just kill yourself. Do the world a favour,” among hundreds of other texts and messages. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of Rooney’s actions and the need to safeguard potential future victims from his abusive behavior.