A Dublin man has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his partner and to intentionally ending the life of his unborn child.
Dean Paget (36) attempted to murder his then partner, Lisa Ward, in Dublin in April 2021 when she was 32 weeks pregnant with a little girl.
Graphic footage shown to the Central Criminal Court showed Paget repeatedly punching and kicking Ms Ward while she lay on the ground.
He shouted “I’ll rip her out of you” as he repeatedly kicked the woman in her stomach, the court heard. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers gave evidence that there had been a placental abruption which was likely caused by the assault by Paget.
Both Paget and Ms Ward were homeless at the time of the assault and were living in a tent close to where the attack occurred.
In a victim impact statement read to the court today, Ms Ward said that all she ever wanted was “my little girl, Ruby Rose”.
“I’m only 32 and I don’t know how I’m going to face life with the effect this has had on me,” she said.
Paget has 68 previous convictions for offences ranging from theft to misuse of drugs and criminal damage.
He will be sentenced next month for attempted murder and intentionally ending the life of a foetus
The court heard that he was a chronic drug user who had frequently witnessed his father assaulting his mother. He has expressed remorse for his actions.
“I know her hurt and pain is all my fault,” he wrote in an apology to Ms Ward.
Sentencing will take place on February 7th.
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