Civil servant Larry Corr punched and kicked his former girlfriend "in a savage and appalling assault on a defenceless woman", a judge said yesterday in the Circuit Civil Court.
Judge Peter Smithwick heard that Corr, of Seacourt, Newcastle, Co Dublin, had left Ms Sheila Sag, of Beaulieu, Drogheda, Co Louth, physically scarred for life.
Corr, described as "hugely possessive and jealous," had savagely punched her to the ground in her Dublin flat, kicked her when she was down and then left her lying there, Judge Smithwick said.
Ms Sag sued Corr for €38,000 damages for assault. Mr David Burke,counsel for Ms Sag, said she had suffered minor to moderate permanent cosmetic disfiguration under her left eye. A plastic surgery consultant had recommended that a residual mark under her eye could not be improved by surgical intervention.
Judge Smithwick said Ms Sag was entitled to €30,500 damages.
He awarded her a decree for €24,050 and costs, and allowed credit for the €6,450 which Corr had paid to escape prison.
Corr admitted in court he had assaulted Ms Sag but denied he had kicked her when she was on the ground. He said his foot was caught in her clothes as she lay in a doorway and he had pushed her away with his leg.
Ms Sag said she met Corr in 1995 and had an "off and on" relationship with him until mid 1997. She had broken off the relationship because of his extreme possessiveness and jealousy.
She said the break-up had been followed by constant phone calls from Corr pleading for a reconciliation. She agreed to meet him on August 29th, 1997, to tell him she wanted to get on with her life.
He had left her at her home at Ranelagh, Dublin, and had caused an embarrassing scene on the street outside. He had taken her door key and entered her flat in front of her.
"I knew something bad was going to happen. I took one look at him and had just turned on my heel to leave the room when he punched me on the face from behind. I covered my face and eyes with my hands and put my face against the wall to protect my head.
"He punched me to the ground in a frenzied assault that lasted at least five minutes. He kicked me when I was on the ground and I had an out of body experience. I knew what was happening but could do little about it."
She could not go out for weeks and when she returned to work had told colleagues she had skidded on her bicycle.