Women withdraw Domestic Violence allegations

WHEN three women appeared at Cavan District Court earlier this month it was to withdraw complaints of domestic abuse against their partners.

In the first case, a 37-year-old male had been in custody for five days after a woman complained to gardaí that he assaulted her and damaged property at her home during an alleged altercation on Thursday, October 29.

When the woman alerted gardaí, the man was subsequently arrested and charged with assault, criminal damage and being intoxicated in a public place. When he didn’t apply for bail, the man went into custody until Tuesday, November 3, when he was due before the district court again.

By the time the court date came round, however, the woman had made a statement to gardaí withdrawing her complaints and attended court to confirm the same.

Judge Mary McAveety struck the matters out on an application by the State.

In another case, a woman who called gardaí on June 5 alleging she was assaulted by her partner withdrew her complaint less than a week later. When the matter came before Cavan District Court on June 11, 2026, the court sergeant for the State said they had not been made aware of her withdrawal statement at that time and it was adjourned several times until the court sitting of November 3.

The woman appeared in court with two other females to formally withdraw her complaint against the 44-year-old man she says assaulted her at her home. The case against the man was then struck out.

A third alleged victim and her alleged perpetrator appeared in court together for her to withdraw her complaint.

Their solicitor, Martin Cosgrove, said he advised them they could go home as it was a straightforward matter of formally lodging a withdrawal statement, which he would do on her behalf, and to save having to clear the court for the domestic violence matter to be heard.

The allegations were subsequently withdrawn and the matter struck out my Judge McAveety without either party present.

* This article was published with support from the Court Reporting Scheme