Wexford man who assaulted a teenager and her mother receives an eleven month prison sentence

The court heard that John Paul McGuire (47) of 77, Talbot Green, Wexford, assaulted a woman at her home on May 9, 2020 during a party where a number of drinks had been consumed. The woman was said to have received a number of bruises. On July 8, 2022 McGuire assaulted the then 16-year-old daughter of the aforementioned woman. The accused was also charged with criminal damage to the woman’s apartment block and to her phone on dates unknown. The defendant was also charged with a public order and criminal damage offence at Sharkey’s takeaway in Rosslare Harbour, Wexford. The court heard that on December 16, 2020, when Covid regulations were still in place, the accused refused to wear a mask, was verbally abusive to staff members, and committed €100 worth of damage to the protective plastic screens in place. The accused also pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving and no insurance. Gardaí informed the court that McGuire has 19 previous convictions, most of which relate to public order matters. Edward King, solicitor for the accused, stated that his client is deeply remorseful and wishes to apologise for his behaviour. Mr King stated that McGuire has struggled with alcohol addiction most of his adult life and was highly intoxicated at the time of the offences. Mr King outlined that at the time McGuire was in an tumultuous relationship with the woman he assaulted at the time which he described as a “match made in hell”. He stated both parties where in the throes of addiction resulting in the two year period of their relationship being bad for both of them. Mr King described his client as “one of those people who cannot drink and should not drink". However, in the period since the offences were committed the accused has addressed his alcohol dependency. Mr King said that the offender who committed these crimes is very different than the man who was before the court on this day. McGuire was said to be sober for three years, engaging with the restorative justice program, the Cornmarket project, the MEND programme, and also the probation services who are willing to continue working with him. Judge Cheatle stated that the assaults are too serious, especially the assault on the teenager, and therefore sentenced McGuire to 11 months imprisonment on that charge with a further 11 months to run consecutively suspended for 18 months on the assault charge of the girl’s mother. On the charge of drink driving a three year disqualification was imposed to run consecutively with a two year disqualification on the no insurance matter. McGuire opted to a lodge an appeal which will be heard before the next sittings of district court appeals held at Wexford Circuit Court and was able to walk free from court until then. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.