A violent criminal who told his then partner that he would "rip" their unborn daughter from her as he punched and kicked her in the stomach has been jailed for 13 years by a judge at the Central Criminal Court.
Dean Paget, 34, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his former partner Lisa Ward and accepted the facts in relation to a charge of intentionally ending the life of a foetus - his own unborn child.
At a sentencing hearing this afternoon Mr Justice Paul McDermott said a headline sentence of 20 years would be appropriate for such "vicious violence" coupled with "appalling threats" to Ms Ward and their baby. But, he said he would make a substantial reduction after taking into account Paget's guilty plea and his attempts to deal with his drug and alcohol issues.
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He sentenced Paget to 14 years with the final 12 months suspended for two years on condition Paget work with probation services and continue to deal with his drug and alcohol addiction.
Paget, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Lisa Ward on April 25, 2021 at Montague Lane in Dublin City Centre. The court also took into account a charge of intentionally ending the life of a foetus, threatening to kill Ms Ward and their baby and the false imprisonment of Ms Ward.
