Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3071Murder · Co. Roscommon · 20 Jun 2014

Court of Appeal sets December hearing for Athlone murder conviction

Patryk Krupa, a 23-year-old man, was beaten unconscious and left to drown in the River Shannon at Bogganfin, Athlone, Co Roscommon, on 20 June 2014. Leszek Sychulec, a Polish cage fighter in his 40s, and Andrzej Gruchacz were charged with his murder; both pleaded not guilty and were found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury, receiving mandatory life sentences from Judge Tony Hunt on 13 June 2016. Their appeals were upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2018. Sychulec is now seeking to have his conviction declared a miscarriage of justice, and the Court of Appeal set a December hearing for the application in July 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court15 May
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Patryk Krupa, a 23-year-old man, was beaten unconscious and left to drown in the River Shannon at Bogganfin, Athlone, Co Roscommon, on 20 June 2014.
  • Krupa was walking to the gym with two friends when a black BMW stopped beside them, two men got out, and he disappeared down an alley with them.
Cause
Krupa drowned in the Shannon while incapacitated with a head injury from a violent assault.
Investigation
Blood and DNA matching the deceased was found on a watch worn by Sychulec at the time of his arrest, and blood staining was found on one of his socks.
Charges
Leszek Sychulec, a Polish cage fighter in his 40s, and Andrzej Gruchacz were charged with the murder of Patryk Krupa.
In court
  • Both defendants pleaded not guilty, and a Central Criminal Court jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after five hours of deliberation.
  • Both men appealed their convictions, but the appeals were upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2018.
  • Sychulec applied to the Court of Appeal for a miscarriage of justice certificate based on undisclosed material relevant to state witnesses, and the Court set a December hearing for the application.
Sentence
Both men were given mandatory life sentences by Judge Tony Hunt on 13 June 2016.
Other details
The defence is seeking disclosure about a newspaper article alleging that a garda in the case was involved in organised crime.
49 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSychulec is a Polish cage fighter jailed for life for the murder of a 23-year-old man who was beaten unconscious and left to drown in the river Shannon. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKrupa had been walking to the gym with two friends when a black BMW stopped beside them and two men got out. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSychulec is a Polish cage fighter (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatPatryk Krupa was 23 years old (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatKrupa drowned in the River Shannon while incapacitated with a head injury from a violent assault (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatKrupa was walking to the gym with two friends when a black BMW stopped beside them (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatKrupa disappeared down an alley with the men from the BMW (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBlood and DNA matching the deceased was found on a watch worn by Sychulec at the time of his arrest (irishmirror.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThere was evidence of blood staining on one of Sychulec's socks (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatLeszek Sychulec is seeking to have his murder conviction declared a miscarriage of justice. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe Court of Appeal set a December hearing for a miscarriage of justice application by a cage fighter living in Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe applicant is seeking to have his murder conviction of a 23-year-old man declared a miscarriage of justice. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereSychulec's last address was Drinan, Ballymahon, Co Longford. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whereCo-accused Andrzej Gruchacz previously had an address in Warsaw, Poland. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe murder occurred at Bogganfin, Athlone, Co Roscommon (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereGruchacz previously had an address in Warsaw, Poland (irishmirror.ie)
  • wherePatryk Krupa was murdered at Bogganfin, Athlone, Co Roscommon. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe murder was alleged to have taken place at Bogganfin, Athlone, Co Roscommon. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe murder of Patryk Krupa took place at Bogganfin, Athlone, Co Roscommon, on 20 June 2014. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe murder took place on June 20, 2014. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe killing is alleged to have taken place on June 20, 2014. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeKrupa drowned in the Shannon outside Athlone while incapacitated with a head injury from a violent assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeKrupa drowned in the Shannon while incapacitated by a head injury from a violent assault. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeMr Krupa drowned in the Shannon while incapacitated with a head injury from a violent assault. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationBlood and DNA matching the deceased was found on a watch worn by Sychulec at the time of his arrest, and there was evidence of blood staining on one of his socks. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationBlood and DNA matching the deceased was found on a watch worn by Sychulec when he was arrested. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe defence is seeking disclosure about a newspaper article alleging that a garda in the case was involved in organised crime. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtA Central Criminal Court jury deliberated for five hours before reaching unanimous guilty verdicts. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • courtBoth men appealed their convictions, but they were upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2018. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge adjourned the matter to 3 July 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAn affidavit exhibiting the new evidence was to be filed by 15 June 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBoth defendants pleaded not guilty (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge said no explanation into the background of what caused the incident had been forthcoming (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtBoth men appealed their convictions and the appeals were upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2018 (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtBarrister Stephen Faulkner appeared led by senior counsel Mark Lynam (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMs Justice Kennedy adjourned the matter to 3 July (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtAn affidavit exhibiting the new evidence should be filed by 15 June (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA Central Criminal Court jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after five hours of deliberation. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal upheld both men's convictions in 2018. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe application is for a miscarriage of justice certificate based on undisclosed material relevant to state witnesses. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Isobel Kennedy adjourned the matter to July 3. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtMs Justice Kennedy set 17 December as the hearing date for the miscarriage of justice application. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe matter was listed for mention on 17 July. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceMandatory life sentences were given by Judge Tony Hunt on 13 June 2016. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceSychulec and Gruchacz were given mandatory life sentences (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceBoth men were given mandatory life sentences by Mr Justice Tony Hunt on June 13, 2016. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe two men were given mandatory life sentences by Mr Justice Tony Hunt on June 13, 2016. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge told the court no explanation into the background of what caused the incident had been forthcoming. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAn affidavit exhibiting the new evidence is to be filed by June 15. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Jul2026
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Longford cage fighter wants murder conviction declared a miscarriage of justice

    Court of Appeal listing for a miscarriage of justice application over the Patryk Krupa murder conviction. The affidavit has been filed, the DPP is engaging on disclosure about a garda, and the matter is listed for mention on 17 July.

    victim, Patryk Krupa, 23, male, non-irish (judged from name)Patryk Krupaconvicted, Leszek Sychulec, male, Polish, named, non-irishLeszek Sychulecconvicted, Andrzej Gruchacz, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Andrzej Gruchacz
  2. 16 May2026
    Otherlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Longford cage fighter wants murder conviction declared miscarriage of justice

    Reports Sychulec's application at the Court of Appeal on 15 May 2026 for a miscarriage of justice certificate, based on alleged undisclosed material relevant to state witnesses. The murder conviction dates from 2016 and the appeal was dismissed in 2018.

    convicted, Leszek Sychulec, 40s, male, namedLeszek Sychulecconvicted, Andrzej Gruchacz, male, namedAndrzej Gruchaczvictim, Patryk Krupa, 23, malePatryk Krupa
  3. 15 May2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Jailed cage fighter wants murder conviction declared miscarriage of justice

    Sychulec's legal team applied for a miscarriage of justice certificate before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy at the Court of Appeal, arguing the conviction was undermined by undisclosed material relevant to state witnesses. The DPP's barrister noted the defence intended to write to the DPP's office to outline disclosure requirements. The matter was adjourned to 3 July 2026 with an affidavit to be filed by 15 June 2026.

    victim, Patryk Krupa, 23, male, non-irish (judged from name)Patryk Krupaconvicted, Leszek Sychulec, 40s, male, Polish, named, non-irishLeszek Sychulecconvicted, Andrzej Gruchacz, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Andrzej Gruchacz
  4. 15 May2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Cage fighter seeks miscarriage of justice ruling for 2014 murder conviction

    Reports Sychulec's Court of Appeal application for a miscarriage of justice certificate, with the matter adjourned to 3 July 2026 and an affidavit of new evidence due by 15 June 2026.

    convicted, Leszek Sychulec, 40s, male, Polish, named, non-irishLeszek Sychulecconvicted, Andrzej Gruchacz, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Andrzej Gruchaczvictim, Patryk Krupa, 23, male, non-irish (judged from name)Patryk Krupa