Chef who held knife to wife’s throat jailed for two years

A trained chef who threatened to kill his wife as he held a kitchen knife to her neck has been jailed for two years.

Jimmy McGinley, 34, had pleaded guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Court to making a threat to kill Antonia O’Brien in the early hours of March 30, 2019 at Glendale Manor, Letterkenny.

He also admitted to producing a kitchen knife in the course of a dispute and assaulting Ms O'Brien.

The court heard the couple were drinking on the night in question when things from the past were brought up. Ms O’Brien mentioned a baby that they lost nine years previously.

Ms O’Brien said in her statement to gardaí that when she mentioned the child, “Jimmy lost it. He was right up in my face and told me not to mention it again”.

McGinley grabbed a knife from the holder and put it to her throat and said to Ms O’Brien: “Go on, mention her again and see what happens.”

Ms O’Brien was terrified and thought Mr McGinley was going to kill her. 

Sentencing Mr McGinley, Judge John Aylmer said the threat to kill came in the midrange of such offences and merited a sentence of four years.

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The judge took into account mitigating circumstances including a lack of previous convictions and that he had not come to adverse attention before or since. 

The judge also noted he had pleaded early and had expressed remorse and empathy. Judge Aylmer also took into account Mr McGinley’s troubled childhood when he was subjected to the addictions of his parents and their abusive behaviour. He said the defendant’s childhood experience had led to mental health and addiction issues.

A Probation Service report said Mr McGinley was at moderate risk of reoffending.

Judge Aylmer reduced the sentence to three years imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended on the condition Mr McGinley entered into a bond to keep the peace for 18 months. He was also ordered to abstain from alcohol and drugs, be under the supervision of the Probation Service and attend any recommended counselling and therapy sessions. The charges of producing a kitchen knife in the course of a dispute and assault were taken into consideration.