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. 15421Violent disorder · Co. Longford · 3 Oct 2021

Four Longford men jailed for violent disorder at Nevin family home

On 3 October 2021, shortly before 10.30pm, four men attacked the home of Mary Nevin at 68 Grian Ard, Ardnacassa, Longford, while she, her husband and their five children were in bed. The four men are David Joyce (28), John Keenan (31), Michael 'Jnr' Ward (33) and Martin Keenan (34). They pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court to violent disorder and putting a person in fear, with the judge due to deliver his verdict on 12 November 2024. On 21 November 2024 the four men were jailed at Longford Circuit Court for varying periods of up to 39 months.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted12 Nov
  6. Sentenced21 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Four men attacked the home of Mary Nevin, and Michael 'Jnr' Ward was first into the garden with an iron bar.
Where
The attack took place at 68 Grian Ard, Ardnacassa, Longford.
When
The incident happened shortly before 10.30pm on 3 October 2021, while the family were in bed.
Weapon
David Joyce smashed the front sitting room window with an iron bar.
Cause
None of the defendants told gardaí why they carried out the attack.
Other details
  • The attack caused about €3,000 damage, smashing a door and six windows.
  • The defendants' families paid €3,000 for new windows and a door.
  • Mrs Nevin tried to withdraw her complaint, but the DPP approved the prosecution.
Investigation
  • Detective gardaí assessed CCTV footage of the incident, which was played in court.
  • Mrs Nevin stated that she recognised and knew all of the men.
Charges
David Joyce (28), John Keenan (31), Michael 'Jnr' Ward (33) and Martin Keenan (34) were charged with violent disorder and putting a person in fear.
In court
  • On 11 November 2024 the four men pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court and apologised for their actions.
  • The judge was due to deliver his verdict on Tuesday, 12 November 2024.
Sentence
  • On 21 November 2024 the four men were jailed for varying periods of up to 39 months at Longford Circuit Court.
  • David Joyce, John Keenan and Michael 'Jnr' Ward were each sentenced to two years and six months, and Martin Keenan to two years.
22 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFour defendants pleaded guilty to violent disorder and putting a person in fear at Longford Circuit Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatMichael 'Jnr' Ward was first into the garden with an iron bar. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatDavid Joyce smashed the front of the sitting room window with an iron bar. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatFour Longford men pleaded guilty to violent disorder and putting a person in fear. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe offence took place at the home of Mary Nevin at 68 Grian Ard, Ardnacassa. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe attack took place at the home of Mary Nevin at 68 Grian Ard, Ardnacassa, on 3 October 2021. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened shortly before 10.30pm on 3 October 2021. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeGardaí were not told by any of the defendants why they carried out the attack. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationDetective gardaí assessed CCTV footage of the incident, which was played in court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationMrs Nevin stated that she recognised and knew all of the men. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge would consider the case before delivering his verdict on Tuesday, 12 November. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe four men were jailed for varying periods of up to 39 months at Longford Circuit Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceDavid Joyce and John Keenan were each sentenced to two years and six months in prison for the affray. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceJohn Keenan also received an eight-month sentence for a separate assault causing harm offence, to run consecutively. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceMartin Keenan was handed a two-year prison sentence. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceMichael 'Jnr' Ward was sentenced to two years and six months. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherMary Nevin, her husband and their five children were in bed during the incident. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherMrs Nevin had tried to withdraw her complaint, but the DPP approved the prosecution. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe defendants' families paid €3,000 for new windows and a door after the incident. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherMrs Nevin, her husband and their five children were in their beds at the time of the attack shortly before 10.30pm. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe attack caused €3,000 damage to the house, smashing a door and six windows. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe Nevin family's compensation for the damage was paid to a firm that installed new windows and a door. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Nov2024
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Judge says 'Feuding equals Jail' in Longford Court

    Sentencing report: four men jailed at Longford Circuit Court for the October 2021 attack on the Nevin home, with sentences, the victims' impact and the judge's remarks on family feuding.

    victim, Mary Nevin, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Nevinconvicted, David Joyce, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Joyceconvicted, John Keenan, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Keenanconvicted, Michael 'Jnr' Ward, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael 'Jnr' Wardconvicted, Martin Keenan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Keenan
  2. 12 Nov2024
    Convictedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Four men who put family in fear during 'frightening' ordeal plead guilty to violent disorder

    Reports the guilty pleas by the four men at Longford Circuit Court, the Garda and CCTV evidence, the defence submissions, the Nevin family's account, and that the judge would deliver his verdict on 12 November 2024. The article does not report a sentence.

    convicted, David Joyce, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Joyceconvicted, John Keenan, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Keenanconvicted, Michael 'Jnr' Ward, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael 'Jnr' Wardconvicted, Martin Keenan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Keenanvictim, Mary Nevin, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Nevin