Parr v PATRICK FINNEGAN

In the matter of *Parr v Patrick Finnegan*, heard before Judge Jarrett, the dispute concerned an application for an apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) made by Ms. Parr against Mr. Finnegan. Ms. Parr sought the ADVO based on allegations of apprehended violence, harassment, and intimidation. Mr. Finnegan opposed the application, disputing the veracity of the allegations.

The central legal issue before the court was whether Ms. Parr had established, on the balance of probabilities, that she had reasonable grounds to be fearful of apprehended violence from Mr. Finnegan, thereby justifying the making of an ADVO. This required the court to assess the evidence presented by both parties regarding the alleged incidents and the nature of their relationship.

Judge Jarrett considered the evidence, including Ms. Parr's testimony and any corroborating evidence, against Mr. Finnegan's defence. The court applied the legal standard of the balance of probabilities, which requires the applicant to demonstrate that their fears are more likely than not to be well-founded. The court's reasoning would have involved an evaluation of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given to each piece of evidence in determining whether the threshold for an ADVO was met.

The court made orders in favour of Ms. Parr, granting the apprehended domestic violence order against Mr. Finnegan.