Man ‘beat the crap’ out of ex-fiancee after serving prison time for earlier attack on her

Kevin Bardon, aged 37, of Grange Crescent, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the woman on December 4, 2023.

Judge Keenan Johnson heard how gardaí were dispatched to the woman's home in Mullingar shortly after midnight and saw the victim in an emotional state and "bleeding heavily from the back of her head".

The woman's hair was wet from bleeding. She had a cut and swelling to the left side of her forehead, swelling and bruising beneath her left eye and a cut on the right eye.

Garda John Creegan told Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court: "There were visible cuts and scrapes to her neck and chest", and the woman was "uncontrollably" upset and told gardaí, "Kevin beat the crap out of me".

He was gone from the house when gardaí arrived. The officer agreed with prosecutor Cathal Ó Braonáin BL, instructed by the State solicitor for Westmeath, Matt Shaw, that the victim was not in a fit state to properly give a statement at that stage, and she was taken to hospital by ambulance.

However, she consented to his colleague Garda Avril Clarke taking photos of her injuries which were exhibited during the hearing.

Initially, she refused to engage with gardaí about making a formal complaint because she was afraid. But just over a month later, she gave a short statement saying Bardon was in her home having a few drinks, and there was an argument.

She refused to provide a victim impact statement for the court.

Unemployed Bardon was interviewed and admitted he was formerly engaged to the injured party but had nothing further to say.

Long history of addiction

The accused, who has a long history of addiction problems, had 56 criminal convictions. Bardon's record included six for burglary and one for assault causing harm, 18 drug offences, as well as multiple road traffic and criminal damage offences.

In early 2023, he was jailed for eight months for attacking the same victim. Garda Creegan agreed with defence counsel Andrea Callan that her client's guilty plea spared the victim the added trauma of a trial.

Ms Callan said Bardon has been under the supervision of the Probation Service due to ongoing cases before the district court, and he was trying to engage with a residential treatment facility.

The court heard he had drink and drug problems and experiences of homelessness. He told the court he was drunk on the night of the attack and that he was now sorry.

A probation report indicated that he cut his vodka intake from a litre to a naggin a day, but Bardon claimed he has been clean since Christmas. He said he is now on medication, which causes a reaction that makes him violently ill if he takes heroin or methadone.

Judge Johnson slated him for what he described as a disgusting attack as he adjourned sentencing until a date in April.

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