A man who claimed he had no recollection of beating his wife, an act which left clearly visible bruises, was given a one month suspended sentence at Galway District Court this week.
Ruslan Cociug (32 ) with an address at 83 Connolly Place, Waterford, pleaded guilty last Monday to assaulting his now ex-partner Mariana Cociug, at Lisbrook House, Headford Road, on June 29, 2008.
Inspector Sean Glynn told the court that the assault was perpetrated on Mrs Cociug when they lived at the asylum seeker accommodation at Lisbrook House. He said that the defendant had been very drunk and “beat” Mariana.
The court heard how the defendant had hit his wife “a number of times over the body” and when Garda Murphy arrived at the scene he could clearly see bruising to the eyes and legs. Cociug, who has no previous convictions, was then arrested.
Defence solicitor Valerie Corcoran said that her client admits that he had been drinking but that he has “no recollection of beating her [Mariana]”. However, she said that “he does recall pushing her”.
Ms Corcoran then explained that the Moldovan national had been minding their two children after Mrs Cociug walked out and did not return for a month. She said that it was unsafe for the defendant to drink because of an head injury he received in a serious accident a few years before. The defendant, who has been in Ireland for four years, moved to Waterford soon after the incident and has not had any contact with the injured party.
Judge O’Brien sentenced to the defendant to one month in jail suspended on condition that he enter into a bond of €500 to be of good behaviour for two years.
