Ireland Crime

Reports the Court of Appeal dismissing PJ Sweeney's appeal against his 15-year sentence. Adds the appeal judgment, the trial judge's reasoning on sentence and the attack details.

Court of Appeal dismissed the three men's appeals and affirmed all convictions. Adds the appeal grounds (video evidence, identification records, a two-hour detention at Beirne's home, trial venue), the court's reasoning, and the sentence of 15 years each.

Reports the appeal hearing before Mr Justice Peter Charleton, where defence counsel challenged the admissibility of body-cam video footage, identification procedures, and sufficiency of evidence given 30–40 people were at the scene. Prosecution argued common design was evident from the footage. The court reserved its judgement.

Reports the appeal hearing: the appellants' grounds (video evidence admissibility, identification, numbers present, joint enterprise, lawfulness of detention) and that the court reserved judgment. Adds the details of the weapons, the attack and the sentence.

Reports the High Court ruling refusing an inquiry into the detention of Martin O’Toole, who was sentenced to 15 years after a jury conviction. It adds the court's reasoning that the complaints were matters for appeal. It does not report the original incident in detail.

Article text is unusable template code; the only usable content is the headline, which reports three men jailed for 15 years each.

Sentencing report for the three men convicted in June 2023 after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. It also reports that a fourth accused, David Lawlor, was found not guilty.

Reports the sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of Martin O'Toole, PJ Sweeney and Paul Beirne, each to 15 years, with the sentence breakdown by charge. Also reports that David Lawlor was found not guilty of the same 17 charges.

Sentencing of three convicted men at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; all sentences to run concurrently; fourth accused acquitted.

Reports the sentencing of Martin O'Toole, Patrick Sweeney and Paul Beirne, with the sentence for each count, the judge's remarks, the concurrent and backdated terms, and the counts on which they were acquitted.

Reports the finalization hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where the three convicted men were adjourned to 28 July 2023 for sentencing. Provides detailed trial evidence including weapons used, bodycam identification, searches of Sweeney's and Beirne's homes, tachograph evidence, and O'Toole's self-representation remarks. Confirms David Lawlor was acquitted of the same 17 charges.

Reports the June 2023 jury verdicts: Martin O’Toole, PJ Sweeney and Paul Beirne convicted on 15 charges, David Lawlor acquitted on 17 charges, and sentencing adjourned to July 28th. Adds details of the charges, weapons, injuries and evidence.

Only the headline is readable. The article text is unrendered template code, so the date, details of the attack and sentence are not available.

Reports the jury verdicts after a trial of over three months: PJ Sweeney, Martin O'Toole and Paul Beirne were convicted, and David Lawlor was acquitted. It gives the convicted men's ages and addresses, and states that the three were remanded into custody for a sentence hearing on June 30.

Reports the jury verdicts after a three-month trial: PJ Sweeney, Martin O'Toole and Paul Beirne were convicted, and David Lawlor was acquitted. It gives the verdict details and the counts each man was found guilty or not guilty of. It does not report sentencing.

Reports the June 2023 jury verdicts: PJ Sweeney, Martin O'Toole and Paul Beirne convicted on 15 of 17 charges, David Lawlor acquitted on all 17, and the three convicted men remanded in custody for sentence on June 30.

Reports the jury verdicts after a trial of over three months: PJ Sweeney, Martin O’Toole and Paul Beirne were each found guilty of 15 of 17 charges, David Lawlor was acquitted, and the three convicted men were remanded into custody for sentencing on 30 June 2023.

Reports the jury verdicts at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 2 June 2023 after a trial of over three months. PJ Sweeney, Martin O'Toole and Paul Beirne were found guilty of most charges, and David Lawlor was acquitted of all 17 charges. Gives the verdict breakdown for each defendant, the weapons used and the State's case. Sentencing is not mentioned.

Reports the jury verdicts: three men found guilty of 15 of 17 charges and one man not guilty on all counts. Adds that the three men are due to be sentenced on 30 June and that the jury deliberated for 13 hours and 58 minutes.

Reports that the jury continued deliberating for a third day, having deliberated just under eight hours, and that the jury asked to examine a pickaxe handle and a grey hat. Gives the defence challenge to the garda identification of Mr Sweeney and the judge's direction on common design.

Reports that the jury has deliberated for four hours, has requested two exhibits, and will resume on Monday. It names the four accused, their ages and the 17 charges each faces. It also sets out the State's identification evidence and the defence challenge to it, and includes the judge's directions on common design and mere presence.

Reports the jury beginning deliberations in the trial of four men, with the defendants' names, ages and home areas, the charges they face and the judge's directions to the jury.

Reports that the jury began deliberations on 25 May 2023 in the trial of four men, who pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each. It adds the judge's directions and the evidence of the complainant Ian Gordon about recognising a voice.

Reports the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the 17 charges against each of the four accused, the judge's charge to the jury, and that Martin O’Toole dismissed his legal team and is not present while the trial continues.

Reports the defence closing speech on day 40 of the trial of four accused, who have pleaded not guilty. Adds the defence case that identification evidence, phone evidence and body-cam handling were flawed. No verdict is reported.

Adds that closing speeches have begun on day 38 of the trial, the four accused and their addresses, their not guilty pleas to 17 charges each, the charges, and the prosecution's closing case. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury.

Four men (Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor) pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Security guard Gary McCartney gave evidence of being cut with a blade and struck with a bat and a nail-studded stick. The trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury.

Reports the trial of Patrick Sweeney (44) of Ramelton, Co Donegal, with co-accused Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor, all pleading not guilty to 17 charges each. Sets out Sweeney's garda interview answers and the defence cross-examination.

Day 17 of trial: Detective Garda Enda Jennings of Ramelton identified Patrick Sweeney in bodycam footage; defence counsel Patrick McGrath SC challenged the identification procedure, noting that protocols introduced in February 2023 were not followed in 2019.

Day 16 of the trial: defence counsel Seán Rafter BL challenged the prosecution's evidence that two mobile phones (Samsung and Huawei) were seized from O'Toole's home in Stripe, Claremorris, on 10 January 2019, pointing out the search warrant information did not mention phones and that the custody record at Castlerea listed the phones as personal items on O'Toole's person. Dt Sgt Shane Killeen disputed this, and Sgt Enda Daly testified to O'Toole's arrest under the Offences against the State Act for unlawful possession of a firearm, though no firearm was found at the property.

Trial evidence from security guard John Graham describing the attack in detail and from KBC Bank official Danny Noone about the repossession and execution order process; defence counsel Blaise O'Carroll SC challenged the validity of the execution order.

Reports testimony from security guard John Graham describing the attack in detail (weapons used, number of men, injuries sustained) and from KBC Bank official Danny Noone on the repossession timeline. Defence counsel Blaise O'Carroll SC challenged the validity of the execution order. Trial ongoing before Judge Martina Baxter at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Day ten of the trial: testimony from security guard Michael Kane describing the attack, the fire, and the recovery of body-cam footage; body-cam footage played to the jury showing four men entering the kitchen with a chainsaw and wooden sticks.

Day ten of the trial: testimony from security guard Michael Kane describing the attack, the fire, and body-cam footage showing four men with a chainsaw and wooden sticks entering the kitchen. Defence counsel Seamus Clarke SC (for Lawlor) and Seán Rafter BL (for O'Toole) cross-examined the witness.

Day ten of the trial; security guard Michael Kane gave evidence about being awoken by the attack, seeing Ian Gordon struck, the fire, and collecting body-cams from the house. Body-cam footage showing four men with a chainsaw and wooden sticks entering the kitchen was played to the jury.

Day ten of the trial: testimony from security guard Michael Kane describing the attack, the fire, and the recovery of body-cam footage; body-cam footage of four men entering the kitchen played to the jury.

Day nine of the trial: Garda scenes of crime examiner Ray Greenan testified about evidence collected at Falsk including cable ties, a slash hook, broken hurl, and blood-like substances. Defence argued an error in his notes (five vs six burnt vehicles) undermined scene preservation credibility. Garda Mark Lawless and Shane Riddell also gave evidence. Medical evidence of Mark Rissen's injuries was presented, and Rissen testified about his employment with GS Agencies.

Day nine of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; Garda scenes of crime examiner Ray Greenan testified about evidence at the scene including cable ties, a slash hook, a broken hurl, blood-like substances, and six burnt-out vehicles; defence challenged credibility of scene preservation after Greenan admitted missing one vehicle in his notes; Garda Mark Lawless and Garda Shane Riddell also testified; medical evidence of Rissen's injuries presented; Rissen gave evidence about GS Agencies licensing.

Trial testimony from Aidan Devlin, managing director of Trinity Asset Management Services, describing the 11 December 2018 repossession convoy, the presence of gardaí, the confrontation with Anthony McGann and a retired garda, and the grappling between Ian Gordon and the retired garda. Defence counsel described the scene as 'like something out of the wild west'. The four defendants have pleaded not guilty to 53 charges.

Trial testimony from Aidan Devlin describing the convoy to Falsk, the composition of the group at Strokestown church, the events of the repossession on 11 December 2018 including the owner Anthony McGann emerging and protesting, and details of the 16 December attack including weapons, injuries to security guards, and the condition of the property.

Trial testimony from Aidan Devlin describing the repossession convoy on 11 December 2018, the confrontation with Anthony McGann and a retired garda, and the circumstances of the attack on 16 December 2018, including the weapons used and injuries to the four security guards.

Trial testimony from Aidan Devlin, managing director of Trinity Asset Management Services, describing the 11 December 2018 repossession convoy and the circumstances of the 16 December 2018 attack. Details of the 53 charges and the four defendants' addresses and ages provided.

Reports the third day of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the jury viewed bodycam footage of the 11 December 2018 eviction and Ian Gordon gave further testimony about the repossession process, including how Mr McGann was lifted out of the house and his sister's reaction.

Third day of trial: Ian Gordon testifies about the December 11, 2018 eviction; jury views bodycam footage of the McGann family being removed; cross-examination by Paul Sexton SC; trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter.

Third day of the trial: jury shown bodycam footage of the 11 December 2018 eviction; Ian Gordon cross-examined by Paul Sexton SC on details of the eviction, including how McGann was lifted out and whether his sister was touched.

Details of Ian Gordon's trial testimony: his identification of David Lawlor's voice, his military and security background, the shotgun threat, and prior encounters with Lawlor at music concerts. Confirms the 53 charges and the four defendants' not-guilty pleas.

Trial testimony from Ian Gordon identifying David Lawlor by voice; details of Gordon's prior military and security career; prior encounters between Gordon and Lawlor at music events; cross-examination challenging the identification.

Detailed testimony from Ian Gordon at the trial before Judge Martina Baxter, including his account of being forced to eat the guard dog's faeces, a prior assault by David Lawlor at a Balbriggan repossession, and the condition of the other guards and the dog Quinn.

Details Ian Gordon's trial testimony on 28 February 2023, including his account of being forced to eat dog faeces under a shotgun, the identification of David Lawlor's voice, and a prior assault by Lawlor at a Balbriggan repossession.

Trial testimony from Ian Gordon describing the Falsk attack in detail, including a shotgun being pointed at his head, the guard dog Quinn being beaten, and being forced to eat the dog's faeces. He also testified to a prior alleged assault by David Lawlor at a Balbriggan eviction in which no criminal proceedings followed.

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Day two of the trial: Ian Gordon testifies in detail about the attack, describing the weapons used, the beating of his dog Quinn, being struck on the head with an engineer's hammer, and a shotgun being put to his head.

Trial opened before Judge Martin Baxter at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; all four defendants pleaded not guilty to 53 charges (17 counts each); prosecution case based on joint enterprise; trial scheduled to run five weeks.

Reports the opening of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Baxter, with Tony McGillicuddy SC prosecuting. Details the 17 counts per defendant, the prosecution's opening speech describing the attack, and evidence including Beirne's admission, Lawlor's phone data, O'Toole's interview, and body-camera footage. Trial scheduled to run five weeks.

Reports the opening of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martina Baxter, with a jury empanelled and the trial scheduled to run for five weeks. Prosecution counsel Tony McGillicuddy SC outlined the case, referencing phone data, body camera footage, and interview statements from the defendants.

Reports the opening of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Baxter with a jury empanelled and the trial scheduled to run for five weeks. Details the prosecution's opening speech including evidence of phone location data, body camera footage, and garda interviews with the defendants.

Records the start of the trial, the 17 charges, the prosecution's account of the attack (20–30 masked assailants armed with chains, pickaxe handles, a meat cleaver, baseball bats and hurleys), the treatment of the four security guards, the German Shepherd put down, the watch stolen, the prior repossession and forcible removal of Anthony McCann and his siblings, and the not-guilty pleas.