Personal trainer at a female-only gym assaulted former girlfriend
Fiona Ferguson
A personal trainer at a female-only gym has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing for assaulting his former girlfriend.
John Peters (33) of Wellingtonia, Knockrabo Apartments, Dundrum, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault and assault causing harm to the woman and criminal damage to her phone on dates in 2022 and 2023. He has no previous convictions.
Judge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing until June to allow a probation report be prepared. She remanded Peters in custody until the next date. She thanked the woman for her bravery in coming to court.
Garda Aisling Hawkes told Jane McGowan BL, prosecuting, that the couple were in a relationship for three years and began cohabiting in late 2021. The court heard the last year to 18 months of the relationship were quite turbulent.
Gda Hawkes outlined the first assault which occurred on July 10th, 2022 in the apartment following an argument. The woman was dragged downwards by Peters and her face hit the carpet, leaving her with blood coming from her nose.
She said to him: “Look what you have done,” and he replied that she had done it to herself. The assault also left her with a large bruise to her arm. She also suffered a graze to her finger and damage to her eyebrow.
The woman attended a work event the following day and was asked by others what had happened to her. She texted Peters and he sent a voice note telling her she was to say the injuries were caused by their dog and she should not say that she fell. He had also told her to wear clothing to cover her arms.
The court heard of a further incident where a pyjama top was ripped off her by Peters leaving marks under her arms on May 2ns, 2023 and damage caused to her mobile phone on June 6th, 2023.
She outlined how Peters would delete numbers and messages from her phone. Photographs of her injuries from both incidents were handed into court.
Gda Hawkes said the relationship ended the following day and Peters was arrested. He cooperated during interview and answered all questions.
The woman subsequently gave a statement to gardaí and handed over her mobile phone.
Peters was invited for interview and gave gardaí a prepared statement. He denied all the allegations and indicated his former partner was “volatile” when he decided to end the relationship. He said his well-being had been affected and he was distressed.
McGowan said the statement made adverse comments as to the woman’s character and outlined she was not to be believed as she had certain mental health issues.
The prepared statement was not read in full in open court but was handed into the judge.
During a question and answer session with gardaí Peters said he thought the woman was bitter due to the relationship ending and denied causing her injuries, suggesting she had been drinking.
Gardai played the voice note where he said she should indicate their pet had caused her injuries and he said he was not sure if it was his voice, commenting that it could be anyone or a generated voice.
The woman told the court in her victim impact statement that the guilty plea did not feel like remorse to her and for her it had come too late. She described how she has been left reliving events and wondering if she has the strength to keep living another day.
She told the court these offences were not in the past for her but something she struggles with in the present, leaving her in fear and suffering panic attacks and flashbacks of events.
Brian Gageby BL, defending, read an apology to the woman from Peters. He said that he wanted to apologise sincerely for his actions and the distress they caused. He said he accepts responsibility and it should not have happened.
He said he respects the woman’s right to move forward without further contact and was truly sorry for the impact of his actions on her.
Gageby said Peters came from a generally supportive family background and had studied sport and exercise management. He said he had a number of prior relationships to this one.
He is a personal trainer and businessman with a female-only gym in Dun Laoghaire.
Counsel said the behaviour was despicable and there was a suggestion of controlling behaviour which was aggravating. He said his client acknowledges he acted in a way he should not have and that he has issues he needs to address. He asked the court to take into account his guilty pleas.
Gageby said Peters is willing to engage in supervision or programs as the court sees fit.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Women’s Aid (24-hour freephone helpline at 1800-341 900, email helpline@womensaid.ie) or Men’s Aid Ireland (confidential helpline at 01-554 3811, email hello@mensaid.ie) for support and information.
Safe Ireland also offers a number of local services and helplines at safeireland.ie/get-help/where-to-find-help/. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.
