The Court of Appeal has ruled that an 18-month-sentence handed down to a man who threatened to kill, falsely imprisoned, violently attacked, and repeatedly punched and kicked his former partner was too lenient.
Cameron Curtis of Finglas Road, Finglas also spat at and strangled Alannah Corrigan (21) who told gardaí that she felt “incredibly scared” and believed she would not survive the assault when Curtis locked her in a bathroom, saying he was going to get some scissors.
During one part of the attack 20-year-old Curtis knelt on her chest telling her, “I’m going to kill you.”
The court heard that Curtis and the victim Alannah Corrigan are still in a relationship.
Appearing before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Curtis pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on July 19, 2022, at The Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire
He also pleaded guilty to seven counts of assault causing harm and one count of false imprisonment on August 12, 13, 14 and 16 at a number of locations in Binary Hub, Bonham Street in Dublin 8.
Presiding judge, Mr Justice George Birmingham said the court required an updated probation report before proceeding to update a sentence.
It was previously reported by journalist Jessica Mcgee, that Curtis had become violent after Corrigan had refused to give him her snapchat password as he had suspicions she was being unfaithful.
Staff at the Royal Marine hotel described Curtis’ behaviour as “rude and aggressive” during the incident at the hotel where he had threatened to smash a glass bottle over her head if she didn’t tell him who she was cheating with.
Gardaí were told that Corrigan was punched in the face 10 or 11 times by Curtis and that she had been screaming throughout this portion of the attack.
Some weeks later when the pair were staying with Miss Corrigan’s sister at the Binary Hub, Bonham Street in Dublin 8, Curtis again became violent after Corrigan refused to disclose her snapchat password.
He slapped her in the face on this occasion before calming down again, however later that night he started pulling her hair.
Over the hours that followed amid a “period of normality” Curtis began to punch, kick, spit at her.
At one point he knelt on her chest saying, “I’m going to kill you”.
She told police she was bleeding heavily after he punched her in the face while she was on the phone and that he had pulled her around the bathroom by her hair. He also locked her in the bathroom for a period of about 45 minutes. .
After she was released from the bathroom Curtis threatened her with a knife, kicked and stamped on her, and held her in a chokehold in an assault which lasted over 30 minutes.