At the Limerick City Sessions on July 24th, Michael Hurley was brought before the court charged with assaulting his wife in a severe manner on the 15th of the same month. Mary Hurley, the wife of the defendant, gave her deposition, recounting the events of that day. She stated that her husband arrived home around nine o’clock and got into a dispute with their daughter. In a fit of rage, the defendant beat their daughter, and when Mary tried to intervene, he knocked her down, kicked her, and even used his teeth to raise her from the ground. Frightened and injured, she witnessed him holding a razor in his hand, which added to her distress.

Acting-Sergeant Kelly testified to arriving at the defendant’s house on the mentioned occasion and seeing the woman with cuts and bleeding wounds. In his presence, she accused her husband of the offence, and he promptly took the defendant into custody. Despite the defendant’s attempt to attribute the injuries to a fall downstairs, the marks of teeth on the woman’s throat were visible. The witness opined that Mary was not drunk but rather frightened and highly agitated.

Mr O’Hara expressed his opinion that the case was particularly cruel. The magistrates, after considering the evidence, handed down their judgment. They sentenced the defendant to three months in jail with hard labour and also required him to be bound to the peace for twelve months. Additionally, the defendant was ordered to find bail, and in the event of failing to do so, he would serve a further three months in jail. The court took a firm stance against the domestic violence and aimed to protect the victim while delivering a stern punishment to the perpetrator.

Constabulary Gazette (Dublin) – Saturday 01 July 1905