Judge orders man who assaulted aunt and smashed window and garden shed to make cash donation

A man who smashed up a family member’s garden shed moments after assaulting his aunt at a private residence in Mullingar before damaging a window belonging to his grandmother the following day has been told to make a cash donation to a domestic abuse service.

Judge Bernadette Owens ordered Rhys Massey (23) of 66 College Vale, Mullingar, Westmeath to return to court in six months with €400 for Esker House following two separate incidents at 272 Dalton Park, Mullingar, on March 14 and 15, 2025.

Sgt Sheila Kenny said gardaí recorded a statement taken from a female family member of Mr Massey’s on the afternoon of March 14 to state she had been assaulted by the accused at around 1pm that day.

The court was told the woman said she had been grabbed and pushed over a chair, leaving her with a bruise to her leg when Mr Massey attempted to come into the property.

The court was told Mr Massey proceeded to “break up” a garden shed.

The next day Mr Massey was again in the back garden of his grandmother’s house and smashed a back window with the handle of a brush, causing €500 of damage.

The court had initially been told the woman Mr Massey assaulted was his cousin, a point defence solicitor Louis Kiernan clarified by revealing the victim was, in fact, his aunt and daughter of his grandmother.

Mr Kiernan said his client apologised to his grandmother the following day and was now on good terms with her, a positive relationship that could not be said of his aunt or mother.

Given his lack of previous convictions and the fact Mr Massey was now employed working in a warehouse for Lidl, Mr Kiernan said that was a stabilising development.

“Unfortunately, he doesn’t have much family support and perhaps that is down as much to his own actions over the years,” added Mr Kiernan, as he asked the court to factor in Mr Massey’s familial difficulties in the context of his offending.

Judge Owens noted how she had previously directed a probation report to be prepared and cited how officials had indicated their doubts as to whether Mr Massy was “that pushed” about any ongoing engagement.

“He is not the most responsive person and the probation officer did have to extract responses out of him, but it is just his personality,” replied Mr Kiernan.

“He does want to stay out of trouble and hold his job and would engage with probation if he was given an opportunity.”

In placing Mr Massey on a 12-month probation bond, Judge Owens remanded him on bail to Mullingar District Court on November 26 for the payment of €400 to Esker House.

She also directed an updated probation report and said should Mr Massey keep up his end of the bargain, the court may look at dealing with the case without imposing a criminal conviction.