A man who "snapped" and assaulted his then girlfriend leaving her with facial injuries has been given a suspended sentence on condition he pay over €5,000 to his victim.
Mark Jordan (39) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Jane Ruffino (37) causing her harm at their home at Ringsend Park, Ringsend, on May 3rd.
Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 2½-year sentence which he suspended in full on conditions including that he pay €2,000 over to Ms Ruffino immediately and pay a further €3,000 over within a year as a token of remorse.
Garda Sarah Merriman told Melanie Greally, prosecuting, that gardaí attended at the address after receiving two calls, one from Jordan and one from a neighbour.
Ms Ruffino said she had been working that night and was due to be collected by Jordan at 10pm. When they got home he told her he was going to bed. He kept telling her he hated her.
She said he went quiet, got out of bed and took her in a headlock and began punching her in the head. Ms Ruffino feared she would be killed.
She was treated in hospital for facial injuries and received four stitches to a laceration under her eye.