Ireland Case No. 17790Violent disorder; endangerment; production of an article · Co. Longford · 7 Oct 2018
Court of Appeal increases sentence for Granard pub shillelagh assault
Edward 'Blondie' Stokes (33) of Ferriskill, Granard, Co Longford, struck John Baxter (27) up to 20 times with a shillelagh during an attack at Kane's Bar on Main Street, Granard, at lunchtime on 7 October 2018. A jury found Stokes guilty on all counts after a nine-day trial at Longford Circuit Criminal Court, and in January 2023 he was sentenced to three years with the final six months suspended for violent disorder, though sources also report a 2.5-year term. The State appealed on grounds of undue leniency, and on 21 March 2024 the Court of Appeal quashed the sentence and re-sentenced Stokes to seven years with the final six months suspended, leaving six and a half years to serve.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced21 Mar
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The judge described the attack as a frenzied assault involving about 20 or more blows.
- Other details
- John Baxter sustained lacerations to his head and bruising to both arms and legs.
- Stokes had two previous convictions for assault, which the court treated as aggravating.
- Where
- The assault took place at Kane's Bar on Main Street, Granard, Co Longford.
- When
- The attack happened at lunchtime on 7 October 2018.
- Weapon
- Stokes struck Baxter up to 20 times with a shillelagh, a blunt instrument.
- Cause
- The prosecution said the attack was a premeditated joint enterprise.
- Investigation
- CCTV footage of the attack was played to the court.
- Charges
- Stokes was charged with violent disorder, endangerment and production of an article.
- In court
- A jury found Stokes guilty on all counts after a nine-day trial at Longford Circuit Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty.
- The State appealed the sentence on grounds of undue leniency.
- On 21 March 2024 the Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and set an appropriate headline sentence of eight years.
- Sentence
- In January 2023 Stokes received three years with the final six months suspended for violent disorder; some reports give the term as 2.5 years, and he also received two years and three months for endangerment and 18 months for production of an article, concurrently.
- Stokes was re-sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended, leaving six and a half years to serve, an increase of four years.
37 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe attack was described as a frenzied assault involving about 20 or more blows. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe victim sustained lacerations to his head and bruising to both arms and legs. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatStokes struck Baxter up to 20 times with a shillelagh during a pub attack. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe judge described the attack as frenzied and involving about 20 or more blows. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe attack involved about 20 or more blows to John Baxter. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe assault took place at Kane's Bar on Main Street, Granard. (leinsterexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe assault took place at Kane's Bar on Main Street in Granard. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe assault took place during lunchtime on 7 October 2018. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe attack happened at lunchtime on 7 October 2018. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe Court of Appeal decision was delivered on Thursday, 21 March 2024. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe attack took place during lunchtime on October 7, 2018. (longfordleader.ie)
- causeThe prosecution said the attack was a premeditated joint enterprise. (offalyexpress.ie)
- weaponStokes struck the victim up to 20 times with a shillelagh. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- weaponThe judge believed the blunt instrument used was a shillelagh. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationCCTV footage of the attack was played to the court. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtStokes was found guilty on all counts by a unanimous jury after a nine-day trial at Longford Circuit Criminal Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe State appealed the sentence on grounds of undue leniency. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal sat on Thursday 21 March 2024 and said it would quash the original sentence and increase the jail term by four years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtStokes was given a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended for violent disorder at Longford Circuit Criminal Court in January 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtStokes pleaded not guilty, but a jury found him guilty on all counts after a nine-day trial. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtA jury found Stokes guilty on all counts after a nine-day trial at Longford Circuit Criminal Court. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceAt the original sentencing Stokes received three years with the final six months suspended for violent disorder. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceStokes was also sentenced to two years and three months for endangerment and 18 months for production of an article, concurrently. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe Court of Appeal set an appropriate headline sentence of eight years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceStokes was re-sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended, leaving six and a half years to serve. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceStokes was also sentenced to two years and three months for endangerment and 18 months for producing an article, to run concurrently. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and increased the jail time by four years. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe court set an appropriate headline sentence of eight years. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceStokes's sentence was reduced to seven years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended, leaving six and a half years to serve. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceStokes was originally given a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended for 12 months for violent disorder. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceStokes was also sentenced to two years and three months for endangerment and 18 months for the production of an article, to run concurrently. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and increased Stokes's jail time by four years. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe Court of Appeal reduced Stokes's sentence to seven years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherStokes had two previous convictions for assault, which the court treated as aggravating. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- otherBaxter sustained lacerations to his head and bruising to both arms and legs. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherMr Baxter suffered lacerations to his head and bruising to both arms and legs. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherStokes had two previous convictions for assault. (longfordleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 25 Mar2024Longford father of six has jail sentence increased by four years for 'savage and vicious' Shillelagh pub assault
Reports the Court of Appeal's March 2024 ruling on a State appeal, increasing the original sentence from 2.5 years to six and a half years in jail. The case is a different incident from the Ferriskill dog attack cases.
convicted, Edward 'Blondie' Stokes, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Edward 'Blondie' Stokesvictim, John Baxter, 27, male, irish (judged from name)John Baxter - 22 Mar2024Father of six in the Midlands has jail sentence increased by four years for 'savage and vicious' shillelagh pub assault
Reports the State's successful undue-leniency appeal, the Court of Appeal's increase of the sentence by four years, and the re-sentencing to seven years with the final six months suspended, leaving six and a half years to serve. Also gives the prosecution's account of a premeditated joint enterprise and Stokes's two previous assault convictions.
victim, John Baxter, 27, male, irish (judged from name)John Baxterconvicted, Edward 'Blondie' Stokes, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Edward 'Blondie' Stokes - 21 Mar2024Jail time doubled for 'savage and vicious' assault with 'shillelagh' in Midlands pub
Reports the State's successful undue leniency appeal at the Court of Appeal on 21 March 2024. The court quashed the original sentence for violent disorder and re-sentenced Stokes to seven years with the final six months suspended, leaving six and a half years to serve.
convicted, Edward 'Blondie' Stokes, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Edward 'Blondie' Stokesvictim, John Baxter, 27, male, irish (judged from name)John Baxter