The accused tried to blame his young son for causing some of the injuries to his now-ex partner
A father-of-four who subjected his partner to a “series of violent acts” including non-fatal strangulation has been handed a six-year sentence today.
Damien McGuinness, who blamed his young son for causing some of the injuries to his now-ex partner, was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court by Judge Gordon Kerr KC.
From Mill Road in Newtownabbey, the 36-year old was convicted by a jury earlier this year of ten offences committed against the woman over a period from May 23, 2025 to December 9, 2024.
These included three separate incidents of non-fatal strangulation, five common assaults and assault occasioning actual bodily harm – all of which were aggravated by domestic abuse.
McGuinness was also convicted by a jury of engaging in a course of behaviour that was abusive to the victim and likely to cause her to suffer physical or psychological harm between May 25, 2023 and July 3, 2024.
Whilst some of the incidents occurred when they were living together, others were committed after they had separated but he came to her home. Despite the jury’s verdict, the court heard McGuinness does not accept his ex-partner’s account.
A statement she made was read during today’s sentencing which set out the affect McGuinness’s offending has had on her. In it, she said: “In relation to my ex-partner and father of my child Damien McGuinness, I have been the victim of a prolonged period of domestic abuse.
“During this time I lived in constant fear and anxiety, never knowing what kind of situation I would be faced with one day to the next. The abuse affected every part of my life – my confidence, my ability to trust others and my overall sense of safety and stability.
“Because of what I went through I have to seek help and support from counsellors and from Women’s Aid. These services have been a life-line for me, helping me to begin rebuilding my life and regain some sense of who I am.
“It’s been a long and difficult journey and there are still days when the affects of the abuse are felt very strongly.”
In her statement, she described the trial process as “extremely upsetting and distressing” and that having to relive what happened to her left her “shaken and emotionally exhausted.”
She added: “It’s been incredibly hard to understand how someone who once claimed to love me could treat me in such a cruel and deliberate way. What has caused me additional pain and disbelief is that he refused to take any accountability for his actions.
“Instead, he has tried to shift the blame on to our son for injuries he caused me. That level of denial and manipulation is devastating and shows a clear lack of remorse.”
Judge Kerr spoke of several aggravating factors in the case which included similar offending against another previous partner, the mother of three of his children.
Adding that some of McGuinness’s offending was carried out on the presence of children, Judge Kerr said he agreed with the Probation Board’s assessment deeming him a ‘dangerous offender.’
Judge Kerr said he had considered defence submissions which set out McGuinness’s unsettled childhood and how he recently had a spiritual rebirth and is a born-again Christian.
Branding McGuinness’s offending as “a series of violent acts” perpetrated against the victim, Judge Kerr imposed an extended custodial sentence of six years custody followed by an extended period on licence for one year.
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