Longford man jailed for false imprisonment and assault of partner
Defendant subjected victim to 'near three-hour ordeal'
A man charged with the false imprisonment and assault of his former partner, as well as threatening to kill her has been jailed for six and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended.
Paul Boyce (46) with an address in Legan, Co Longford, was just over two days into a jury trial in January when a guilty plea was entered to the charge of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to his partner on April 1 or April 2, 2023.
Mr Boyce had previously pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment and the section 3 assault of his former partner. A nolles prosequi was entered in regard to one count of endangerment.
Mr Boyce reappeared last Friday at Roscommon Circuit Court, where Detective Garda Brendan Lynn gave evidence of the incident, which occurred on the night of April 1 into the early hours of April 2, 2023.
The court heard that, on April 1, 2023, Mr Boyce met his fiancée at a pub in Rathowen, where both consumed a number of drinks.
The court heard that Mr Boyce then drove his vehicle to the shop to purchase more alcohol before driving to his partner’s house. However, when his partner told him he couldn’t come in, he continued driving without letting her out of the car.
When he stopped the vehicle at an isolated bog in Aghnavealogue, Legan, she asked him to bring her home, but he refused, the court heard. During the course of the near three-hour ordeal, Mr Boyce also assaulted and threatened to kill his former partner.
Mr Boyce has 15 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences.
Judge Kenneth Connolly proceeded to sentence Mr Boyce to six years and six months in prison, suspending the final 12 months for a period of two years and backdating the sentence to April 4, 2023, when Mr Boyce first went into custody.