Keeping Up Is Hard to Do:
A Trial Judge’s Reading Blog

SENTENCING-BREACH OF NO-CONTACT CONDITION

D.P.P. v. B.M., [2022] IECA 293, November 11, 2022, at paragraph 13:

In that context it is important to note that this was a breach of a significant condition of bail (as pointed out by the judge) and that the breach itself was of a significant order. The conditions were imposed in respect of serious alleged offences. The complainant was present in the applicant’s house at a time when the relevant condition was to the effect that he was to have no contact of a direct or indirect kind with her. There will be cases when a prohibition in bail conditions of contact with a complainant or witness will not be of the utmost importance, even if appropriate. In a case involving an allegation of domestic violence of the utmost seriousness (including charges of coercive control) such a term is particularly significant and a breach is similarly so.