Probation for man who punched girlfriend in the face

41-year-old's behaviour described as 'nasty'

A former Onchan resident has been ordered to work with the probation service after punching his girlfriend in the face.

Alan Christopher O’Reilly, now of Tromode House, was sentenced at Douglas Courthouse after admitting domestic abuse.

The court heard he was in a relationship with the woman between April and July this year but had threatened to harm her - and her friends and family - during that period.

The 41-year-old had also physically assaulted her – during one incident he flicked and prodded her in the face before kicking her in the calf causing bruising.

In July after a disagreement with one of her male friends he told the man: “I’ve killed before and I’ll do it again.”

When O’Reilly was arrested on 29 July he was found with 1.5 grams of cannabis valued at £30; he later admitted possessing the drug for personal use.

In his basis of plea O’Reilly said the relationship between the pair was ‘generally good’ but ‘sometimes volatile’ adding he’d accepted he’d gone too far by hitting her.

O’Reilly’s advocate told the court it was ‘drunken behaviour and verbal disputes’ adding: “Clearly there is a live issue there in terms of alcohol and drug misuse.”

Noting that his client had spent 82 days on remand at the Isle of Man Prison he added: “He sincerely apologises for his behaviour.”

Imposing a 12-month probation order Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood told the court the facts of the case ‘didn’t make for good listening’.

Activating a Domestic Abuse Protection Order she added: “The behaviour generally directed at her, and her family, is insidious, nasty behaviour.”