First person in Ireland convicted of coercive control admits assault on other woman
Kevin Dunleavy, the first person in Ireland convicted of coercive control, has pleaded guilty to a series of new charges including assault, attempted strangulation, and arson. The incidents occurred in 2024, involving a new partner and another individual at a community center.
Why it matters
The case highlights the ongoing challenges in managing repeat offenders of domestic abuse and the legal system's response to coercive control.
A Co Donegal man, who was the first person in Ireland convicted of coercive control, has admitted assaulting another woman in an unprovoked attack.
Kevin Dunleavy was jailed for 21 months back in 2020 after harassing his then girlfriend.
Dunleavy made almost 6,000 phone calls to the woman over a three-month period in 2019 when he would demand she scan her location to prove where she was.
He pleaded guilty to a number of charges including coercive control, harassment and making threats to damage property.
The Kerrykeel man, now aged 39, appeared again at Letterkenny Circuit Court where he admitted to violently assaulting another woman he was dating.
He pleaded guilty to a series of charges arising out of an incident in 2024.
Dunleavy admitted assaulting the woman in the toilet of Kerrykeel Community Centre where his victim was attending a jiving class on September 6th, 2024.
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in