March 25, 2008

NBA Domestic Abuse

Kim Donaghy said her husband Tim, a disgraced NBA referee, "had been
prescribed medication for 'mental-health problems,' but apparently had
not been taking it regularly." (STEFANIE COHEN and TODD VENEZIA, "
'HE IS GOING TO SNAP,'" New York Post, March 21, 2008) In addition to
being a cause of crime, can we now add domestic abuses when
psychiatric drugs are stopped? Why begin taking a chemical if stopping
causes violence? Why take chemicals to treat illnesses that only
psychiatrists can see? How much longer will courts play a role in
causing crime? How much longer will the taxpayer subsidize causing
violence?

Roy Bercaw - Editor ENOUGH ROOM

'HE IS GOING TO SNAP'
By STEFANIE COHEN and TODD VENEZIA
New York Post
March 21, 2008 -- Talk about a flagrant foul!

The wife of crooked NBA ref Tim Donaghy is seeking a restraining order
after he allegedly flew into a rage at their Florida home and
threatened to beat her before the horrified eyes of their children.

"He told me that he was going to knock my f---ing head off my body,"
said Kim Donaghy in court papers requesting the restraining order.

"He was enraged, out of control, cursing at me in front of our four
children and making threats.

"We were all crying and scared so I called the police. The officer
witnessed Tim scream and threaten a friend of mine that came to help
me with the children."

Kim, who is filing for divorce, also claimed the blowup last Friday
was only the tip of the iceberg.

"He hits the children when he becomes frustrated," she said in the
court papers. "He verbally and mentally abuses them."

Lawyers for Tim and Kim did not return requests for comment.

Her dramatic account of the incident was meant to convince a judge to
bar the disgraced ref from coming within 500 feet of her or their
children.

"I am scared for myself and my children. He is going to snap," Kim
said in the papers.

Tim is facing up to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty last year
to supplying information to crooked gamblers on NBA games he worked.
He is free on bail in that case.

He is known for his arrogance and volatile temper, which he has taken
out on neighbors and even NBA players who crossed him, according to
reports.

In the wake of his downfall, his wife filed for divorce. Nevertheless,
they continued to live together for a time in their home in a posh
section of Bradenton, Fla.

Kim claimed her husband took advantage of their continued proximity to
search through her private papers and communications.

She said her hubby took documents from her files and copied e-mails
from her lawyer.

When she confronted him about it last week, he grew enraged, she claimed.

In addition to the couple's four daughters - ages 6 to 12 - one of the
kids' friends reportedly witnessed the tirade.

"She came home and said that he [Tim] got mad. She couldn't say much
more because she is so young," said the mother of the 6-year-old
friend, who asked that their names not be published.

Kim said she took her kids and moved out of the family home that
night. In her restraining-order request, she asked that her hubby be
barred from the home.

She also asked for temporary alimony and child support totaling $4,000 a month.

Kim said Tim had been prescribed medication for "mental-health
problems," but apparently had not been taking it regularly.

The restraining-order request is scheduled to be heard in court on Monday.

stefanie.cohen (at) nypost.com

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