A Donegal man who wrecked the rented home of his girlfriend, whom he coercively controlled, has been returned to prison after a court heard he has not engaged with the Probation Service.
Joseph Colhoun had the final six months of a two-and-a-half year sentence suspended last summer by Judge John Aylmer at Letterkenny Circuit Court.
Colhoun caused €18,500 worth of damage to a house at Killyclug while intoxicated on a cocktail of drink and drugs. Armed gardai stormed the house and found Colhoun in what was described as a ‘comatose’ state.
Colhoun, who is originally from Lifford, was charged with a range of offences arising out of the incident on November 27, 2022 and sentenced to two years and six months in jail, with the last six months suspended. He was sentenced last June with the term backdated to when he entered custody in November, 2022.
However, a probation officer told Donegal Circuit Court that Colhoun, who is originally from Lifford, has not engaged with the Probation Service this year.
The officer told the court that Colhoun – who appeared in court on crutches – has been offered eight appointments since January, but has not attended any. He attended just two appointments since his release from prison in October.
Ms Fiona Crawford BL told Judge John Aylmer that the State was seeking to have bail revoked.
Mr Timothy Morrow BL, for Colhoun, told the court that his client’s lifestyle was “not the best” and “he is quite transient”.
He asked the court to have “as much mercy for him as can be found”. He said Colhoun was aware that he was on very thin ice, but asked for a final opportunity to give his client a chance to re-engage with the service and take up residential treatment.
Judge Aylmer said he had hoped that the suspension of the six month sentence might have been sufficient incentive for Colhoun.
“He is a man who is a great risk to women in our society,” Judge Aylmer said, adding that rehabilitation was always the focus of sentencing.
He said it was now “too late” to come and ask for a chance and noted that the Probation Service were “extremely patient”.
He said as Colhoun had not shown any interest, he was revoking the suspended sentence meaning that Colhoun must serve the six months in prison.
Previously, Colhoun pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Nicole McEntaggart at An Clarach, Killyclug, Letterkenny on November 27, 2022.
He was also charged with the coercive control of the same woman on an unknown date between January 1 and November 22, 2022 at the same address and with assault causing harm to Ms McEntaggart on June 27, 2022 and also on November 27, 2022.
At Letterkenny University Hospital on November 27, 2022, he was charged with assaulting Stephen McCabe under the Non Fatal Against the Persons Act.
He was also charged with the obstruction of Garda David Lee and assault causing harm to Garda Lee at Letterkenny University Hospital on November 27, 2022.
Colhoun was also charged with the obstruction of Garda Shane Wall at Letterkenny University Hospital while he was charged with assaulting nurse Veronica Dunleavy at Letterkenny University Hospital, both on November 27, 2022.
Another charge of breaching a barring order – which was imposed on November 16, 2022 – at An Clarach, Killyclug, Letterkenny on November 27, 2022, was also included.
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