Suspended sentence for Buncrana man who attacked his partner and kicked her door in

A Buncrana man who assaulted his female partner after kicking her front door in has been sentenced to one month in prison, suspended for six months.

Eamon Grant, of The Meadows, Buncrana, pleaded guilty to charges of assault and criminal damage at Buncrana District Court.

Imposing a suspended jail sentence, Judge Emile Daly described the incident as a “frightening situation for the injured party”.

The judge warned the 36-year-old defendant that he will be imprisoned if he comes to any adverse Garda attention within the next months.

Defence solicitor Frank Dorrian said Mr Grant struggles with alcohol addiction but is trying to address his demons, and he deeply regrets his actions.

Garda Sergeant Conor Mulkerns presented the facts of the uncontested case in court. He said gardai responded to a reported domestic incident at a home in the Meadows, Buncrana, on July 8, 2025.

On arrival at the location, they found that the front door had been kicked in, while the injured party reported that Mr Grant had broken down the door before assaulting her.

The woman alleged that Mr Grant struck her in the legs, arm, and chest, causing her pain.

Mr Grant, who was highly intoxicated, was arrested and brought to Buncrana Garda Station, where he was later interviewed in relation to the alleged offences.

Judge Daly queried the relationship between the injured party and Mr Grant, with solicitor Dorrian informing the court that they are long-term partners.

The court was further told that Mr Grant has two previous convictions for Public Order offences dating back to 2007.

Sgt Mulkerns said there was no victim impact statement in the matter, while the injured party had suffered minor injuries, including bruising on the shoulder and pain in the finger and wrist.

Photos of the injuries and the damaged door were handed into the judge.

Defending the case, Mr Dorrian said his client and the injured party have been in a long-term relationship, while excessive drinking caused Mr Grant to behave the way he did.

“They have been together for twenty years and have four children. My client arrived home in a very intoxicated condition, with cans of beer with him, and she quite rightly refused entry. This gave rise to annoyance on his part, and he kicked the door.”

“He was residing there, and he realises that it’s not an acceptable means of addressing an argument, but that’s what happened. He returned some time later in a more advanced state of intoxication. He came back, an argument ensued, and it spilled over into this unseemly event.”

“My client was heavily intoxicated. He was at that time taking refuge in alcohol. He apologises to the injured party. He regrets his actions.”

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Mr Dorrian said Mr Grant had descended into a “situation of despair, lashing out at people around him, who are blameless” – but he’s now attempting to curb his alcohol consumption.

“He tells me that his drinking is playing a lesser role in his life at the moment; he’s trying to moderate his consumption.”

“He would need some help with counselling in respect of his overall welfare; He tells me that is something that he has dabbled in, but not yet really addressed properly.”

Judge Daly interjected at this point, asking: “Is he prepared to stop drinking alcohol?”

Mr Dorrian replied: “He would be prepared to make a pledge. He is trying to stop but it’s a struggle and a long process.”

The judge further enquired: “Is he still with the injured party?”

The solicitor replied: “Yes-ish. It’s a situation that is not exactly harmonious. It is an uneven relationship, but the resolution of that resides entirely with his attitude and his behaviour, not hers.”

The court heard how the door, which had come off its hinges, was fixed the following day.

Having heard the evidence, Judge Daly imposed a conviction and a term of imprisonment for one month, suspended for six months, on the basis that Mr Grant remains of sober habits and does not come to the attention of the gardai within that six-month period.

“I have no doubt that this was a frightening situation for the injured party, who at nightime had her front door broken into. And then, having got into the house, he proceeded to hit her. That’s not something that I take lightly in any respect,” the judge warned.

Judge Daly said it was also concerning that the incident had arisen out of an alcohol dependency, and yet the defendant hasn’t stopped drinking.