Man admits punching, headbutting and leaving woman with burns in brutal attack

A Westmeath man is to be sentenced later this month in connection to a violent attack on a woman during which she was repeatedly punched, headbutted and left with burn injuries to her hand.

Trevor Costelloe, with an address at Adamstown, Castletown Geoghegan, Westmeath, appeared at last week’s sitting of Mullingar District Court, where the 45-year-old entered guilty pleas to assaulting his victim three times within the space of two days in August last year.

The first two assaults took place at Mr Costelloe’s home on August 12, resulting in two counts of assault causing harm against him, followed by a second incident at the Greville Arms Hotel car park on August 14.

Judge Bernadette Owens previously accepted jurisdiction in the case when state evidence was outlined by court presenter Sgt Orla Keenan.

She said while the victim did not initially come forward to make a statement of complaint to gardaí, she did so in the wake of the car park incident.

Sgt Keenan said the first attack took place at 10pm, when Mr Costelloe launched a violent attack on the injured party, first by punching her repeatedly in the face and head before delivering a headbutt that left the woman bleeding from the nose.

The court was told the assault took an even more disturbing tone when “the accused lit a pillow on fire and threw it at the injured party, causing her burns to her hand”.

Sgt Keenan said the state evidence would also assert Mr Costelloe “threatened to get a knife and stab” his victim.

Two days later, Sgt Keenan said gardaí responded to a call of an alleged assault that occurred at the Greville Arms Hotel car park, following which a complaint was made and where the allegations from two days earlier were made.

Mr Costelloe had been remanded on bail to appear at last Thursday’s court, where a plea or date for hearing had been anticipated.

In addressing the court, defence solicitor Louis Kiernan confirmed his client would plead guilty to the three charges.

Sgt Sheila Kenny said the state would seek a short time to canvass for a victim impact statement, an Judge Owens remanded Mr Costelloe on bail to appear at Mullingar District Court on March 19.