Man threatened ex at knifepoint to 'pick a finger or toe' before subjecting another ex to bloody attack
by Tom Tuite · Irish MirrorA man who beat and threatened a former partner at knifepoint "to pick a finger or a toe" and later subjected another ex-girlfriend to a 40-minute bloody attack will be sentenced next year.
Ben Curry, 24, of Fossagh, Mount Temple, Moate, Co Westmeath, has been warned he faces a possible seven-year term, and his sentencing had been delayed pending psychological assessments.
At Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court yesterday today, Judge Keenan Johnson noted that evidence from a doctor treating Curry was not available yet.
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He said sentencing could not proceed without it, as he adjourned the case until March. Curry, who is in custody on remand, pleaded guilty earlier to assault causing harm and threatening to kill his first female victim at Gate Lodge Apartments, Willow Park, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, on New Year's Day 2023.
Curry held a knife to her face and said he would "cut off her finger to stop her texting boys". He also admitted another attack and robbing the next woman on May 22 2023, at the rear of Athlone Town Shopping Centre when she met him to break it off after a brief relationship.
Forensic psychiatric reports stated Curry, who had been placed into care at the age of four, had been diagnosed as having anger-management issues stemming from childhood abuse and abandonment. He said Curry had gone off the rails from the age of 20.
In June, he noted that a probation report had been furnished and had said the court cannot release him while he remains at high risk of re-offending. Earlier, Judge Keenan described the incidents as "disgusting, disturbing and obnoxious" and said the level of violence was concerning.
He has said he would consider terms totalling seven years but backdate them to when Curry went into custody on remand. He has also told Curry he may suspend the remaining portion for five years. However, he has stressed that the indicative sentences were subject to positive reports and ongoing engagement with treatment programmes.
Curry has been getting on well in custody and attended music classes, which helped calm him, the court has also heard. The defence had said the incidents were "shocking" but submitted they left Curry overcome with remorse, so much so that he could not address the court.
Curry was couch surfing at the time of the first attack on the young woman who was in student accommodation and had taken him in. She had been having a shower while he looked at her phone and allegedly saw she had been texting an ex-boyfriend.
The court heard he told her to get out of the shower, got aggressive, punched a hole in the wall and caused €1500 worth of damage. Curry "slapped her in the face, put his arm around her and lifted her off the floor". He dropped her onto a bed and punched and slapped her in the face.
The court heard he then left and turned with a kitchen knife and told her, "Pick a finger or a toe", and at this stage, she was screaming. "He held the blunt side of the knife to her face and said he would cut off her finger to stop her texting boys," the court heard.
When he calmed down, she managed to get out of the apartment and rang her mother from a local shop. Photos of the injuries Curry inflicted were furnished to the court. The court heard during the second attack, Curry, who was on bail at the time, met the young woman at Athlone Town Centre after she had already tried to tell him via Snapchat that she did not want to see him again.
Curry pushed her onto the ground, head-butted, punched and kneed her in the face, and took her €900 iPhone. She was bleeding because "her piercings had been pulled from her ear", and she suffered swelling. Earlier, Judge Johnson said the incident went on for 40 minutes, which must have been terrifying for that young woman who provided a victim impact statement.
In it, she outlined how she is in "constant fear", has trust issues and "hated the way she looked after the assault". The judge noted Curry's guilty pleas spared the two women having to give evidence and being questioned in court.
Curry, who also had an address in Co. Carlow, also admitted involvement in three violent disorder incidents in Longford and Athlone on other dates. He had six prior convictions for drug possession, carrying a knife, trespassing, threat to kill or cause serious harm and production of an article in a dispute, and had already received a two-year sentence.
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