A MAN RECENTLY convicted of the manslaughter of his wife in Spain has been convicted of assaulting a press photographer, RTÉ reports.

Dermot McArdle, 40, of Brookfield, Marlbog Road, Dundalk, was convicted of assaulting Jenny Matthews at Haynestown on 9 January.

Matthews told Dundalk District Court that she had been sent to take photographs of McArdle’s house and was in a field beside the residence when the defendant approached her.

She testified that McArdle had demanded the camera and, when she refused to hand it over, wrestled it out of her hands. Matthews said that during the scuffle she was hit in the face with the camera and she fell to her knees.

McArdle pleaded not guilty to the charges and said that when he had asked Matthews for the camera she had handed it over. He said that he wanted to delete pictures of himself and his son.

However, Judge Flann Brennan said that he had no doubt that McArdle had assaulted Matthews.

Solicitor for the defendant Frank McDonnell said that his client had been the target of media scrutiny for several months and had had to call the gardaí to his home on a number of occasions.

Judge Brennan was told that Dermot McArdle has a conviction of assault dating back to 1999, as well as a conviction for manslaughter in Spain, although that is still the subject of legal proceedings.

He sentenced him to three months imprisonment, but suspended the sentence on the condition that McArdle displays good behaviour for the next three months.