Thursday 5 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. 29526Assault (violent assault by choking) · Co. Longford

Drumlish man jailed for violent assault by choking in Longford

Brendan Kelleher, a 33-year-old man from Drumlish, Co Longford, was charged with violently assaulting his former partner by choking her after Garda Shane O'Connor found him pinning her to the bed with one hand around her neck and the other over her mouth. The matter was first heard at Longford Circuit Court sitting in Mullingar in March 2021 and adjourned, with Kelleher remanded in custody on 12 October 2021 ahead of sentencing. On 22 October 2021, Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced him to two years and six months in prison, with the final year and nine months suspended for seven years on condition of a €500 bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court14 Oct
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced22 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Brendan Kelleher, 33, of Drumlish Hill, Drumlish, Co Longford, was charged with violently assaulting his former partner by choking her.
  • Garda Shane O'Connor found Kelleher pinning the woman to the bed with one hand around her neck and the other over her mouth.
  • The victim stated she left the door ajar for gardaí who were having difficulty finding the house.
Charges
He was also charged with threatening and abusive behaviour.
In court
  • The case was heard at Longford Circuit Court sitting in Mullingar courthouse before Judge Keenan Johnson.
  • Kelleher was remanded in custody on 12 October 2021 ahead of sentencing.
Sentence
He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison with the final year and nine months suspended for seven years on condition of a €500 bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
Other details
  • Kelleher had ten previous convictions, most due to his abuse of alcohol, and was assessed at the high end of moderate risk of reoffending.
  • Kelleher cooperated with gardaí and paid a total of €7,000 in compensation to the victim.
  • Kelleher spent more than three months in Cuan Mhuire Treatment Centre and consumed alcohol within hours of leaving the facility.
34 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe victim left the door ajar for gardaí who were having difficulty finding the house (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatGda Shane O'Connor saw Kelleher pinning the woman to the bed with one hand around her neck and the other over her mouth (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatBrendan Kelleher, 33, of Drumlish Hill, Drumlish, Co Longford, was sentenced for violently assaulting his former partner by choking her. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe victim stated she left the door ajar for gardaí who were having difficulty finding the house. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatGarda Declan Brislane and Garda Allen Doherty revealed Kelleher had been arrested for public order incidents and public intoxication in June and September. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatWhile Kelleher spent more than three months in Cuan Mhuire Treatment Centre, he consumed alcohol within hours of leaving the facility. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatJudge Johnson described the offence as extremely serious, with the victim terrorised and left with severe adverse psychological sequelae. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe probation report showed the accused has a tendency to minimise his culpability and is still deemed a threat to his ex-partner. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe probation officer expressed concern about the vulnerability of Kelleher's new partner. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatOn 4 June, Kelleher was in a verbal disagreement with his new partner while intoxicated and was arrested under the Public Order Act. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatHe was assessed at the high end of moderate risk of reoffending. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatHe has ten previous convictions, most due to his abuse of alcohol. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatKelleher cooperated with gardaí and paid a total of €7,000 in compensation to the victim. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeThe main causative factors for reoffending are his abuse of alcohol. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with violently assaulting his former partner by choking her (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeHe is also charged with threatening and abusive behaviour. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtKelleher appeared at Longford Circuit Court on the Tuesday before 15 October 2021 (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe court was reminded of his previous appearance in March (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Johnson adjourned sentencing to 22 October (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtKelleher was ordered to have €5,000 in court for the victim (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtKelleher was ordered to engage with the probation officer (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtKelleher is to be sentenced on 22 October 2021 (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Longford Circuit Court sitting in Mullingar courthouse before Judge Keenan Johnson. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Johnson indicated he would hand down a two and a half year sentence suspended for ten years if the probation report was positive. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe court noted the early plea of guilt but also that the accused was caught red handed and had little option but to admit guilt. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned in February on terms that the accused would stay out of trouble and remain sober. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe court indicated the offence carried a headline sentence of four years, reduced to two years and six months with mitigation. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Johnson indicated a two-and-a-half-year sentence suspended for ten years if the probation report is positive (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to two years and six months in prison with the final year and nine months suspended for seven years. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe final sentence was two years and six months imprisonment, suspending the final one year and nine months for seven years on condition of a €500 bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherKelleher had been arrested for public order incidents and public intoxication in June and September (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherKelleher said he was struggling with his mental health (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherKelleher spent more than three months in Cuan Mhuire Treatment Centre (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHe consumed alcohol within hours of leaving the treatment facility (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Oct2021
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Drumlish man jailed for 'traumatic' assault on former partner

    Full sentencing details including the judge's reasoning, probation report findings, prior public order arrests in June and September, and the conditions of the suspended portion of the sentence.

    suspect, Brendan Kelleher, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brendan Kellehervictim, female
  2. 14 Oct2021
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Drumlish man who violently assaulted ex-partner remanded in custody ahead of sentencing

    Reports the pre-sentencing hearing at which Kelleher was remanded in custody, the victim's evidence describing how Gda O'Connor found him pinning her to the bed, the judge's sentencing indication, Kelleher's address to the court about his mental health and alcohol use, and his prior arrests for public order and intoxication in June and September.

    victim, femalesuspect, Brendan Kelleher, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brendan Kelleher