Mayo man told ex-partner he will put her children in a 'white box'

A MAYO man who attacked his former partner in her home in front of her two children told her that the children would 'end up in a white box'.

Patrick Moran (36) of Oak Mill, Balla, Co Mayo appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to his former partner at her home in Castlebar on October 5, 2022.

The court heard that the victim had arrived home from work at 5.50pm with her children aged four and three years when Mr Moran arrived at the door with a hoodie over his head and a 'bandana' pulled up over his face. She said she shouted at him to get out of her house and as he moved towards her she pulled down the bandana and recognised the person as her ex-partner.

Patrick Reynolds, counsel for the prosecution, outlined that Mr Moran grabbed the victim by the neck and pushed her forcefully against the kitchen hob. He pointed at her then three-year-old daughter who was close by and said, 'I always told you I would be back ... I will put those two kids in a white box'.

The defendant started to leave after the victim shouted that her family were coming over for dinner and as he did so he took a bunch of keys. She tried to grab them back, cutting her thumb in the process and started to scream for help at the top of her voice.
Mr Reynolds said the defendant then told her to shut up and threw them back at her and told her not to ring anyone.

Sergeant James Mangan said that after gardaí arrived at the scene, they rang Mr Moran and arranged to meet him at Cosgrave's Garage in Castlebar later that evening. He was brought to Castlebar Garda Station and arrested.

Mr Moran admitted arriving at his ex-partner's house and entering uninvited but claimed he was wearing a snood over his face as he had a cough. Sgt Mangan said he admitted saying it is time to talk or they will end up in a box.

The court heard that two parties had been in a relationship which had ended almost two years before the incident occurred.

Sinister look

In a victim impact statement, the injured party said she was fortunate that she was not physically hurt following the incident but psychologically she said she will never forget the sinister look he gave her daughter. She said the house she called her home is no longer their safe place and she feels she failed to protect her children.

The victim added that Mr Moran had watched and waited for her and calculated the scenario before taking his opportunity. She said a lot of 'what ifs' go through her mind and she made her children sleep with her for months afterwards and she no longer leaves her door unlocked. She said the defendant's comments about a white box will taunt her son for the rest of his life and left his mind tainted.

Mr Brendan McDonagh, counsel for Mr Moran admitted that the incident was a terrifying experience for the victim and it arose out of the breakdown in their relationship.

He said that his client's version of what was said is that 'it is time to talk and settle everything or they will end up in a box'. However his client admitted that it was still an incredibly stupid thing to say and he told gardaí that he regretted saying it and it just 'blurted out'.

Mr McDonagh said that the relationship between the parties had ended abruptly and his client did not know why and it was playing on his mind for two years. He said it got the better of him and 'inadvisably' he went to her house to confront her to ask why the relationship ended.

Deeply ashamed

Mr McDonagh said nothing justified his client's actions and he was deeply ashamed of what he did and repeatedly apologised for his actions when interviewed by gardaí.

He said that it was very important that Mr Moran continue with his counselling and anger management course and asked Judge Eoin Garavan to adjourn sentencing for an updated probation report.

Mr Moran he said was a hard working self employed man who has nothing like this in his background and it was staggering that he would find himself doing something as profoundly stupid as this. He said he is in a new relationship and his new partner is aware of the charges.

Judge Garavan agreed to adjourn sentencing until October 18 to allow Mr Moran to continue counselling and an updated probation report.