“On 17 September Mr Bailey finally appeared before Judge James O’Connor at Skibbereen District Court. The journalist, who was by now 44 years old, admitted the assault on his partner of 10 years. Ms Thomas was not in court for the hearing. Judge O’Connor was told that Ms Thomas feared for her safety because of the attack. Having heard an outline of the facts, and that Mr Bailey had already spent more than three weeks in custody, the judge imposed a three-month”