Judge Barney McElholm said he could impose a maximum sentence of six months on Michael McIntyre, 45, who admitted assaulting his ex-girlfriend and another woman last January.

Mr McIntyre was given a longer sentence of eight months in jail for causing criminal damage by punching a table than the five-month sentence given for assaulting the women.

BBC News reports Judge McElholm said there needed to be “separate domestic violence legislation with enhanced penalties in Northern Ireland of up to twelve months for violent domestic assaults on women and children” — however, he stressed there needed to be a functioning Northern Ireland Executive for such changes to be made.

Former Justice Minister David Ford, responding to the remarks on Twitter, said there was no six-month maximum sentence for domestic violence offenders as different charges could be brought.

He said domestic abusers could be charged with common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, or grievous bodily harm.