A Dublin man who left a woman covered “from head to toe” in her own blood has been jailed. This shocking act of violence has sent shockwaves through the community and highlights the need for greater awareness and education around domestic abuse in Ireland. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, and the victim was left with serious injuries. The man responsible has now been brought to justice, but this does not negate the long-lasting impact of his actions. This article will delve deeper into the case and explore the wider issue of domestic abuse in Ireland.
Aaron Cole, a 39-year-old resident of Jamestown Avenue, Inchicore, Dublin 8, was sentenced today for a section 3 assault that occurred on August 19, 2020, in the home of the victim, Carrie Murray, in Athlone. Judge Keenan Johnson took time overnight to review the evidence before handing down the sentence.
During the trial, Detective Garda Aidan Hynes testified that Cole and Murray were connected on Facebook and had been chatting on August 18. Both parties were drinking, and Cole hailed a taxi from Dublin to Athlone at a cost of €200. He arrived around 2:30 a.m., and the two had several drinks together while watching a movie. Murray fell asleep on the couch and woke up at 5:20 a.m., at which point she went to bed and left Cole sleeping on the couch.
At 7 a.m., Murray was awakened by a phone call downstairs. When she got up to answer it, Cole was on the stairs with the phone in his hand, displaying the caller as her ex-partner and father of her children, who happened to be Cole’s nephew. The detective testified that Cole immediately began shouting and became paranoid that he was being set up for a beating. He started questioning Murray, and when she tried to reassure him, he headbutted her in the face. Murray lost her balance and held onto the side of her baby’s cot in an upstairs room.
Cole then flipped Murray over and held her down by the back of her neck, screaming at her. She begged him to stop, but he continued shouting and began hitting her repeatedly on the head with a section of the cot that slides up and down. The beating continued for approximately two hours, during which Murray blacked out several times. At one point, she was on her hands and knees, and Cole continued to punch or kick her while threatening to kill her.
A neighbor who was working from home called the gardaí after hearing the commotion. Gardaí arrived around 10 a.m. and were met at the door by Cole, who had no pants on and was wearing a heavily bloodstained t-shirt. Murray was covered in blood and admitted to the ICU in Tullamore hospital, where she was treated for a broken nose, fractures in her jaw, lacerations to her face, and extensive bruising, among other injuries.
Cole admitted to the assault during a police interview, stating that he had been in an “animalistic rage” and could not control himself. He also claimed that his drink had been spiked and that he thought he had been set up.
At the sentencing, the judge noted that the assault was “far too serious” and that it was fortunate that the neighbor had the presence of mind to contact emergency services. He took several mitigating factors into account, including Cole’s early plea of guilt and his attempts to pay compensation. However, the judge imposed a sentence of three years and six months, with no portion of it suspended.
In a victim impact statement read out by the state prosecutor, Murray described the assault’s lasting impact on her life, including permanent facial scarring and a subsequent episode of pancreatitis following a deliberate overdose. She also wrote of her fear of returning to her home and the psychological trauma she continues to experience.
In concluding the trial, the judge expressed his hope that Murray could move on with her life and find closure following the sentencing.
