Posted by Mullingar judge’s son locked up after subjecting woman to ‘nightmare’ assault and false imprisonment ordeal
Nathan Lynam, who celebrated his 32nd birthday in jail last week, is the son of district court judge Patricia Cronin
- 06:00, 13 DEC 2023
- Updated08:15, 13 DEC 2023
A judge’s son has been locked up – after he admitted subjecting a woman to an assault and false imprisonment ordeal she described as ‘a nightmare’.
Nathan Lynam, who celebrated his 32nd birthday in jail last week, is the son of district court judge Patricia Cronin.
Justice Cronin, who was made a judge in 2021, could not be contacted for comment last night – but reliable sources confirmed Lynam is her
Justice Cronin is based in Mullingar, Co Westmeath and played no role in the case.
Nathan Lynam, with an address at Killynon, Cooke, Cloghan Mullingar, Co Westmeath, was jailed by Judge John Aylmer at Longford Circuit Criminal Court last month
He was given two concurrent two year jail terms for one count of assault causing harm and another on falsely imprisoning a woman known to him at a location in Co Longford on July 11 2022.
He pleaded guilty to each charge and the final six months of the two year term was suspended.
The Irish Mirror has established that he was arrested two days later, but was released without charge and then moved to Spain where he lived for more than a year.
He returned to Ireland in July and then pleaded guilty in October and was jailed last month. With remission, Lynam will walk free in the first few months of 2025.
The brave victim told Judge John Aylmer at Lynam’s sentencing hearing that she wanted to share her story – so it could help shed light on the lasting effects that his abuse had on her life.
And she revealed how Lynam laughed at when he subjected her the attack. She said in her victim impact statement that the experience had left her witha legacy of nightmares and flashbacks.
“Nightmares of being headbutted, punched, kicked and dragged around his room I was locked up in, by him and being told repeatedly to be quiet while laughing at me saying ‘Look at the state of you’.
“I’m constantly replaying what happened that night over and over again in my head. Depression has become my constant since the event, casting a dark cloud over my life.
It has stolen the joy from moments that should be happy, and made simple tasks seem too much.
“It feels like an anchor weighing me down, making it difficult to imagine a brighter future because of choices I made in the past.
“I have since been prescribed anti depressants to get me through the days, which is something I had never imagined myself having to do.”
And the woman told the Judge that Lynam’s attack stripped her of her own self-esteem. She said: “ I find it difficult to trust my own judgment, let alone trust others. The thought of facing the world outside, interacting with others, has become a huge challenge.
“The marks on my body are a mirror of the psychological scars I am left with, a constant reminder of the pain I was put through by my attacker.
“Even after the marks healed, I have still struggled to recover from the way I was subjected to abuse that night.” The victim added: “The impact of this attack has spilled over into every area of my life.
“I often feel like a ghost of my former self, stagnant, robbed of the future I once could have had. My dreams and aspirations, both for work, and to travel the world once filled with promise, have been violently interrupted by his abuse.
“The path to personal and professional growth that I once envisioned has been blocked, leaving me feeling powerless.”
And she revealed that she has not been able to work since Lynam subjected her to the nightmare ordeal. She said: “Since the age of 18, up until the pandemic, I have been in employment. I am acutely aware of the importance of financial independence and self-sufficiency.
“Since I was attacked I have been unable to return to work. Not being able to work due to his abuse has not only hindered my financial stability, but it has also thwarted my professional growth and dreams.
“Concentration and productivity have become elusive, and the weight of the abuse has left me emotionally drained, making it challenging to meet the demands of any job and keep up with monthly bills I have.
“This only adds to the emotional distress I experience daily. I was forced to put my career and travel aspirations on hold, and the opportunities I once had are now a distant memory.”
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