Friday 30 October 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. 13407Affray · Co. Galway · 13 Jan 2019

Four Longford brothers sentenced over affray at Galway funeral home

Four Hannifin brothers from Longford were sentenced at Longford Circuit Court for a 2019 affray at a funeral home in Mervue, Galway. Two were jailed and two received suspended sentences after pleading guilty to affray.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced18 Jun
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJohn McGinley was shot in the right thigh. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatPatrick McGinley was stabbed a second time in the shoulder. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatRobert Hannifin sprayed a liquid at Denis McGinley. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatJohn McGinley received a gunshot wound to his right thigh. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatPatrick McGinley showed gardaí two stab wounds. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatDenis McGinley had an injury to his right eye. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe affray took place at The Holy Family Church in Mervue, Galway. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred at The Holy Family Church, Mervue, Galway. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 13 January 2019. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe McGinley family arrived at 3.20pm. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeThe feud began with an incident among younger members of the families in November 2018 at a bowling alley. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeGardaí said the feud stemmed from an incident among younger members of the families in November 2018 at a bowling alley. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponRobert Hannifin sprayed Denis McGinley with a clear liquid from a plastic bottle. (longfordleader.ie)
  • weaponPatrick Hannifin stabbed Patrick McGinley a second time in the shoulder. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe four men were initially charged with violent disorder and three assault causing harm charges each. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeDenis and Robert Hannifin were also each charged with possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeThe four men were initially charged with violent disorder and assault causing harm. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeDenis and Robert Hannifin were also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtAll four men pleaded guilty to affray. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtDenis Hannifin also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe remaining charges were withdrawn by the state. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe men were sentenced at Longford Circuit Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtAll four men pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of affray. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe sentencing took place at Longford Circuit Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceDenis Hannifin received concurrent three-year sentences on two charges, with the final 12 months suspended for two years. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceRobert Hannifin received a three-year sentence, with the final 20 months suspended for two years. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThomas and Patrick Hannifin each received a 27-month sentence, suspended in full for two years. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThomas and Patrick Hannifin must each enter a €500 bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour, and submit to probation supervision. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceCredit was given for custody time between 21 February and 13 March 2020. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said the case had met the threshold for a custodial sentence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherBoth injured parties said the Hannifins showed no remorse, except for an apology from Patrick Hannifin. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe liquid was hydrochloric acid. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe state's case was that bottles held by Patrick and Tommy Hannifin were filled with water. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe affray took place in broad daylight in front of a large crowd of members of the public. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherBoth injured parties said there had been no show of remorse from the Hannifins, except an apology from Patrick Hannifin. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Jun2025
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Brothers from the Midlands jailed following outbreak of violence outside funeral home

    Reports the sentencing of the four Hannifin brothers, the guilty pleas to affray, the sentences imposed and the victim impact statements from the McGinley family.

    convicted, Tommy Hannifin, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tommy Hannifinconvicted, Denis Hannifin, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Denis Hannifinconvicted, Robert Hannifin, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Hannifinconvicted, Patrick Hannifin, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Hannifinvictim, John McGinley, male, irish (judged from name)John McGinleyvictim, Patrick McGinley, male, irish (judged from name)Patrick McGinleyvictim, Denis McGinley, male, irish (judged from name)Denis McGinley
  2. 18 Jun2025
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Longford brothers jailed following outbreak of violence outside funeral home

    Gives the sentence for each of the four men, the charges and guilty pleas, the ages of the four men, and the names of the injured McGinley men. It places the affray at The Holy Family Church, Mervue, which the existing record describes as a funeral home. The 52-month sentence for Denis Hannifin relates to a separate 2018 stabbing and is not part of this incident.

    convicted, Tommy Hannifin, 46, named, irish (judged from name)Tommy Hannifinconvicted, Denis Hannifin, 44, named, irish (judged from name)Denis Hannifinconvicted, Robert Hannifin, 49, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Hannifinconvicted, Patrick Hannifin, 48, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Hannifinvictim, John McGinley, irish (judged from name)John McGinleyvictim, Patrick McGinley, irish (judged from name)Patrick McGinleyvictim, Denis McGinley, irish (judged from name)Denis McGinley