A Letterkenny man who dragged his partner along the ground in a local shopping centre in front of children has escaped with a warning.
John Joyce pleaded guilty to the charge before Judge Paul Kelly arising from an incident at Letterkenny Shopping Centre on March 15.
Sgt Jim Collins Letterkenny District Court that gardai received reports of a male “roaring and shouting abuse” shortly after 6pm.
He said that the defendant was dragging the female along the ground and was shouting obscenities.
He added that there were a number of people present while this was happening, including young children.
The court also heard that Joyce did not appear to be under the influence of any substance or alcohol. He said that the female did not wish to give a statement.
Barrister, Ms Laura Byrne, representing the defendant, told the court that her client was aged eighteen and wished to apologise to the gardai, the security staff and patrons of Letterkenny Shopping Centre.
She added: “This should never have happened. He went down the wrong path and has no excuse for his behaviour. He has indicated his remorse and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.”
Ms Byrne also told the court that Joyce had just become a father and has a one-month-old baby and “wants to be a good parent”.
Judge Kelly asked if the young woman involved in the shopping centre incident was the mother of the defendant’s baby and he was told that she was.
“This is not the sort of example you want to be setting for your child,” Judge Kelly told the defendant.
He concluded by giving the defendant the benefit of the Probation Act, meaning a conviction will not be recorded against him and stated: “Hopefully he’s as good as his word”.