Man bought his ex flowers after assault
A YOUNG man who assaulted his then girlfriend by pushing her over in a row bought her flowers afterwards, a court heard.
Ciaran Dolan (25) pushed the woman while he was drunk after a Christmas party and she fell, hurting her arm.
Dolan, of Hayden's Park Dale, Lucan, pleaded guilty to assaulting the victim on either December 5 or 6 last year.
Judge David McHugh dismissed the charge under the Probation Act, leaving Dolan without a conviction after he made a €100 charity donation.
Sgt Maria Callaghan told the court the accused had pushed his then-girlfriend, causing her to fall over. He was intoxicated at the time and coming from his Christmas party when an argument began between the pair, Sgt Callaghan said. The woman suffered minor injuries to her arm.
Dolan had no previous convictions of any kind.
The accused had been in a long-term relationship with the victim, his solicitor Valerie Buckley said.
He had written a four-page letter of apology to the victim and sent her flowers as "a token" of his remorse, Ms Buckley said.
Judge McHugh asked if the victim had accepted the defendant's apology.
Sgt O'Callaghan said she had not spoken to the injured party.
Ms Buckley said "as far as she knew, it had been accepted".
The €100 donation was handed over and the judge directed it be paid to the Blanchardstown Hospice.