Donegal man appears in court, admits coercive control charge

A Donegal man has admitted to coercively controlling a woman.

The man, who is in his 30s and cannot be named at this stage in order to protect the anonymity of the victim in the case, appeared before Letterkenny Circuit Court.

The defendant entered a guilty plea to a charge contrary to section 39 (1) and 3 of the Domestic Violence Act, 2018.

He is charged that, on dates unknown between July 2020 and December 2020, he did knowingly and persistently engaged in behaviour that was controlling or coercive with a woman who he was in an intimate relationship with.

The man addressed the court only to plead guilty.

The accused man was represented by Mr Colm Smyth SC, with Mr Ciaran Elders BL, instructed by solicitor Mr Frank Dorrian.

Mr Smyth told the court that his client has no previous convictions and said a probation report would be appropriate to assist the court. The barrister also asked that legal aid be extended to cover a medical report.

Judge John Aylmer consented and asked that a probation report include an assessment as to the man’s suitability for community service.

The matter was adjourned and the man remanded on continuing bail.