SHANE DONNELLAN FROM KEMNAY SENTENCED AFTER VIOLENT ATTACK ON EX-PARTNER

A disturbing incident unfolded in Kemnay involving Shane Donnellan, a 31-year-old man whose actions resulted in a serious assault on his former partner. The events took place on the evening before his birthday, when Donnellan visited her residence, leading to a violent confrontation that drew police intervention and subsequent legal proceedings.

According to reports, Donnellan arrived at the woman's home in Kemnay to find several individuals present in the kitchen. The reason for his visit appeared to be related to a dispute over a dog, which was a point of contention between the two. During this encounter, Donnellan demanded to see the dog, and tensions quickly escalated. Without warning, he punched the woman in the head, prompting others in the house to intervene in an attempt to de-escalate the situation and pull him away from her.

Despite efforts to calm him, Donnellan's aggression intensified. He seized the woman by the neck, pinning her against a wall in a violent display of anger. The assault was severe enough to warrant police involvement, and officers responded promptly to the scene. Donnellan was arrested on the spot and later appeared in Aberdeen Sheriff Court to face charges.

During the court proceedings, Sheriff Peter Grant-Hutchison was unequivocal in his assessment of Donnellan’s behavior, stating, “It seems to me you are begging for a prison sentence.” The prosecution, led by Fiscal depute Rebecca Coakley, detailed the events of July 7, when the assault occurred around 8.45 pm. She explained that several people were present in the kitchen of the property at the time, and that Donnellan, who appeared intoxicated, was irate and demanding the return of his dog.

Ms. Coakley recounted that the victim attempted to de-escalate the situation by offering to take the dog and leave peacefully. However, Donnellan responded with violence, punching her in the head. When others tried to intervene and asked him to leave, he refused and instead grabbed her by the throat, pushing her against the wall in a display of extreme aggression.

Prior to this incident, Donnellan had been issued a court order on July 17, instructing him not to enter the victim’s property or contact her. Despite this, he violated the order within two days. The court heard that on July 19, around 7.20 pm, Donnellan agreed to meet the woman outside to discuss the dog exchange but soon became argumentative. He entered her property again in an attempt to retrieve the dog, and after leaving, he barged back in, grabbed the animal, and left again. Police were called once he re-entered the premises.

In addition to the assault and breach of bail conditions, Donnellan faced a charge of spitting on a police officer, which he denied. The Crown accepted his not guilty plea on that count. A report was prepared to assess Donnellan’s approach to his offending, but Sheriff Grant-Hutchison criticized his attitude during the process, indicating that he did not seem receptive to support measures. The report recommended that Donnellan receive support outside of prison.

Despite this, the sheriff emphasized that the severity of the assault warranted a prison sentence. For the breach of bail, Donnellan was sentenced to a two-year community punishment order and was ordered to enroll in the Caledonian Programme, which is designed for domestic abuse offenders. The sheriff reserved sentencing on the assault charge until January 16, allowing time to monitor Donnellan’s progress and rehabilitation efforts, noting, “This gentleman has a very good incentive to avoid jail.”

Shane Donnellan, of Paradise Road, Kemnay, now faces the consequences of his violent actions, which have brought him before the court and resulted in a structured community-based sentence aimed at addressing his behavior and preventing future incidents.