Man who ‘beat crap’ out of former partner jailed

A man who ‘beat the crap’ out of his former partner in what a judge previously described as a ‘disgusting’ attack has been jailed for two years and six months.

Kevin Bardon (37), of Grange Crescent, Mullingar, County Westmeath, appeared before Judge Keenan Johnson at Mullingar Circuit Court, charged with assaulting his former fiancée, causing her harm on December 4, 2023.

In March, Judge Keenan Johnson heard evidence of how gardaí encountered the woman shortly after the assault in an emotional state and bleeding from the back of her head. She also had a cut and swelling to the left side of her forehead, a cut on her right eye and swelling and bruising under her left eye.

She had told gardaí that “Kevin beat the crap out of me”. Mr Bardon was not in the house when gardaí arrived. The woman was taken to hospital by ambulance, where she was treated for her injuries.

She refused to give a statement at that time, but consented to photographs being taken of her injuries. On February 2, 2024, she gave a statement to gardaí that Mr Bardon was in her home and that they were “having a few drinks” before “he beat the crap out of me”.

Mr Bardon has 56 previous convictions, including one for assault causing harm, six for burglary, four for criminal damage, 18 for drugs-related offences, and numerous road traffic convictions.

He previously served an eight-month prison sentence for attacking the same victim, and has a history of addiction issues.

Mr Bardon, in the witness box in March, told the court that he is “completely off alcohol” and is now on medication which causes him to be violently ill if he takes drugs.

When asked by Judge Johnson if he saw the photographs of his former partner’s injuries, he said “they’re disgusting”.

“To think I’d do something like that to someone I love so much… and the worst bit is I don’t even remember it,” he said.

Judge Johnson set a sentence of three years and six months, but suspended the final year on the condition he does not offend for a period of six years post-release, and abstain from illicit drugs and alcohol.