*The recipient of the card said she is terrified.
A JUDGE has stated that he is surprised that Irish Prison Service censors permitted two letters, including a Valentine’s Day Card to be sent out by an inmate to an ex-partner.
At the Family Law Court, Judge Alec Gabbett made his comment after a woman sought a domestic violence Protection Order against the man after receiving the letters from him in prison.
The inmate has a history of violence against women and is currently serving a long sentence for an offence carried out on an ex-partner. The man also has other convictions for assault against other ex-partners.
In court, the woman was seeking a Protection Order and told Judge Gabbett that she is ‘terrified’ of the man.
She said, “It is very upsetting, very traumatic”.
She said that in the past the man has subjected her to beatings and coercive control but he has not faced any criminal charges in relation to those allegations.
The woman handed in the Valentine’s Day card and a second letter into court for Judge Gabbett to read.
Judge Gabbett commented, “Some of it is erratic and juvenile”.
He said, “I am surprised it got through the censor’s office – normally, they censor these letters and they are checked by the office before they go out”.
Judge Gabbett commented that there is a mark on the back of the envelope to show that the censor has gone through the letter.
Judge Gabbett said, “They are unwanted letters and contain all kinds of declarations or admirations”.
After reading a section of one of the letters, Judge Gabbett said, “That is a bit off where he says – ‘like I said I would bang you quick babe’.”
Judge Gabbett said, “It is very erratic. You would be concerned if he was released because it is very likely he will arrive at your door”.
Judge Gabbett said that the man will remain in prison and he told the woman, “There is a certain safety in that he is not going to arrive at your house today or tomorrow”.
Judge Gabbett cautioned that if he grants the order, the man will have to be produced in court in June to contest the woman’s Safety Order application which follows the granting of an ex-parte Protection Order.
Judge Gabbett told the woman, “That could be quite re-traumatising for you and I am just conscious that you would have to undergo all that trauma again”.
He said, “I want you to be ready for that and be prepared”.
He added, “You are reasonably safe by virtue of him being in prison”.
Judge Gabbett said that he didn’t have to make a full Protection Order as there is no means by which the jailed offender can watch or beset her currently.
Judge Gabbett said that he would grant a partial Protection Order banning communication from the man. He said, “I am not going to grant the full order – you don’t need it – we just need to stop the communication and we will see what happens then”.
