Łukasz Lewandowski (50), with an address outside of the jurisdiction, pleaded guilty at Wicklow Circuit Court to assaulting his then girlfriend of five years at their home back in November 2024.
Garda Emma Doyle from Newtownmountkennedy Garda Station gave some background on the incident. The court heard that on November 18, 2024, Mr Lewandowski and his then partner were at a party at a friend’s home where alcohol was present. Mr Lewandowski assaulted his ex-girlfriend at the party, but it did not escalate until they both returned to their own home.
Once at the residence, Mr Lewandowski proceeded to punch, kick and knee his partner while she was on the floor. She then locked herself inside a room in the house and called gardaí at 23:19. The court was informed that gardaí responded to the call at 23:35. Upon entering the property, gardaí found his 38-year-old partner with a deep laceration underneath her eye. Mr Lewandowski was intoxicated when questioned at the scene.
Gda Doyle testified that there was blood spatter across the walls in the hallway. The victim’s injuries were photographed at the scene, and she was observed with a deep cut beneath her eye.
Jim Kelly for the prosecution told the court that he could put the injuries sustained by the victim into words, but Judge Patrick Quinn said: “The photos speak for themselves.”
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Today’s News in 90 Seconds – Friday October 10.
He added: “Anyone that needs them can see them in the book of evidence.”
Mr Lewandowski was charged the following day on November 19, 2024. When charged, he made some admissions to what happened, telling gardaí that he could only recollect some parts of the night in question.
Mr Kelly also told the court that the victim has been uncontactable and has refused to give a victim impact statement.
The court was informed that a friend cooperating with the investigation told gardaí they were unable to contact the victim by telephone. A neighbour of the couple informed the prosecution that a new tenant is now living in the home previously owned by Mr Lewandowski and the victim.
The court was informed that Mr Lewandowski has no previous convictions and has never come to the attention of An Garda Síochána.
Barrister for the defendant Conor Rubalcava BL, instructed by Mr Lewandowski’s solicitor Joe Maguire of Maguire and McNiece, told the court that his client is a Polish national who has lived in Ireland for a long time. He has a strong work history, having worked for Tesco as a security guard, and could provide a multitude of character references to prove that this incident was completely out of character.
One of the character witnesses was in court to support Mr Lewandowski.
Mr Maguire handed a letter into the court that Mr Lewandowski had written to the victim when the case was still before the District Court.
In the letter, Mr Lewandowski said: “I feel remorseful. I am empty without you. I wasn’t awake when it happened.”
The letter continued, “It hurts me more. Please accept my apology. I am now doing therapy, and it won’t happen again.”
The court was told there is currently a civil case before the courts to deal with the issue of the property owned by the former couple. When asked if Mr Lewandowski still paid half the mortgage, he stated through his interpreter: “I send the payments, and she keeps sending them back to me.”
When asked about the motive behind the “vicious assault,” Conor Rubalcava BL told the court that his client has no problem generally, but on the night in question he was feeling exhausted from working and that alcohol had another effect on him.
The court was informed that Mr Lewandowski had previously worked as a police officer in Poland and served as a member of a special counter-terrorism unit. Mr Rubalcava said that it took a certain degree of discipline. The court heard he left in 2002 due to a change in command of his unit.
Mr Lewandowski offered €5,000 compensation to the injured party. His defence told the court that he is on social welfare and that it took a lot of sacrifice to get the money together.
When sentencing, Judge Quinn told the court that there is a recurring theme of violence against women and that the court needs to set an example.
He considered the defendant’s stellar work history, his early guilty plea and his general remorsefulness towards what occurred.
Judge Quinn handed down a sentence of two and a half years, with the last 18 months suspended for 18 months, and the €5,000 offered as a token of apology to the victim. He gave Mr Lewandowski one month to pay the money.
Mr Kelly asked the judge what would happen if the victim refused the compensation. The judge ruled that it should be given to Bray Women’s Refuge by default if it is not accepted.
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