A domestic abuse victim said she has been left “shocked and disappointed” after her attacker was admonished at court.
We told you in January how funeral director John Donnelly was found guilty of assaulting his now ex-wife Keida.
The incident is said to have happened at the then family home in Barbush Place, Strathaven, in December 2017.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard how Donnelly struck his ex on the head, causing her to fall against furniture, then hit her repeatedly on the head and body with his hand.
He also pulled her about by the clothing, kicked her and grabbed her before banging her body against the floor.
Donnelly continues to deny the charges against him, but was found guilty at trial and was first due to be sentenced in March by Sheriff Ross McFarlane.
However, after a number of procedural delays – most notably caused by the coronavirus pandemic – the 51-year-old’s case was finally disposed of by Sheriff Moira MacKenzie on Friday.
And that has left his 46-year-old victim and business partner in “disbelief”.
Keida told the News : “I cannot adequately express my shock, disappointment, and disbelief at this sentence.
“I spent several days with the domestic abuse team at East Kilbride police station in 2018 where an officer tried to dissuade me from going forward with this case, telling me of how traumatic the trial would be and how it was notoriously difficult to get a conviction in domestic violence cases.
“With the help and support of Women’s Aid, along with my family and friends, I decided to go ahead with the case.
“Going to trial, having to face my abuser, and being aggressively questioned by the defence solicitor was indeed one of the most traumatic experiences in my life.
“After the guilty verdict I mistakenly believed justice would be served and my ordeal would be over.
“For the sheriff to then admonish my abuser feels like it was all for nothing.”
Keida, originally from England, previously told the News how the pair met in June 1998 and that she had moved up to Scotland to be with John after just six months.
They were married in 2002 and have four children together – but she says all but one of them have been “turned against” her by her abuser.
She says she has been locked out of the business – Heritage Funeral Services – she owns with John, “leaving me with no income to support myself and my youngest daughter”.
As a result, Keida is now claiming Universal Credit.
She added: “Every day we see campaigns highlighting the rise in domestic violence and we are told by the authorities that they are prioritising it, coming down hard on abusers.
“So what message is being sent to domestic abusers when they get convicted and receive nothing more than a talking to? It seems there are no consequences to their actions.
“What message does it send to women in abusive relationships? To the children of these women?”
Keida has now written to Linda Fabiani MSP and Lisa Cameron MP to ask for support in taking her concerns further.
At court on Friday, Donnelly again protested his innocence, saying his ex-wife had managed to make accusations “stick this time”.
He told the court: “It has been a horrific two-and-a-half years for my children and myself, and I state again I have never hit anyone in my life despite being found guilty of it.”
