Ireland Kilmallock man's jail sentence reduced on appeal over priest's home trespass
On 13 May 2025, Jason Sheehan (29), a man from Kilmallock, County Limerick, was arrested after an alleged attempt to break into the parochial home of Fr Pat Bluett, a priest in Kilmallock. Fr Bluett had followed the man and pointed him out to two gardaí who were on duty at 6am. Sheehan pleaded guilty to trespass before Kilmallock District Court, which sentenced him to eight months in jail. A report dated 7 June 2026 says the sentence was appealed before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, and the sources give conflicting accounts of the outcome, one saying it was halved to four months and another saying it was re-sentenced to eight months with the final four suspended.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced7 Jun
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Jason Sheehan (29), a man from Kilmallock, is alleged to have attempted to break into the home of Fr Pat Bluett, a priest in Limerick.
- Where
- The alleged attempt took place at the parochial home of Fr Pat Bluett in Kilmallock, County Limerick.
- When
- Fr Bluett came across two gardaí on duty at 6am on 13 May 2025 and told them a man had attempted to break into his home that morning.
- Investigation
- Fr Bluett followed the man and pointed him out to the two gardaí.
- Sheehan was arrested and charged by local gardaí.
- Charges
- Sheehan pleaded guilty to trespass before Kilmallock District Court.
- In court
- Kilmallock District Court convicted Sheehan of trespass at the parochial home and sentenced him to eight months in jail.
- Sheehan's barrister, Joe McMahon BL, appealed the sentence before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
- Sentence
- One report says the sentence was halved to four months on appeal, while another says Judge Daly re-sentenced Sheehan to eight months in jail with the final four months suspended.
- Cause
- Sheehan's barrister said the offending was due to a long-standing addiction to alcohol and drugs.
- Other details
- The judge said the morning's actions were a violation of the priest's privacy and safety in his own home.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whereThe man attempted to break into a priest's home in Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe priest came across two gardaí on duty at 6am on 13 May 2025. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe priest followed the man and pointed him out to the two gardaí. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationSheehan was arrested and charged by local gardaí. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeSheehan pleaded guilty to trespass before Kilmallock District Court. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtSheehan's sentence was appealed before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceSheehan was convicted of trespass at the priest's parochial home and sentenced to eight months in jail. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was halved to four months on appeal. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceOn appeal, Judge Daly re-sentenced Sheehan to eight months in jail with the final four months suspended. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherSheehan's barrister said his offending was due to a long-standing addiction to alcohol and drugs. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe judge said the morning's actions were a violation of the priest's privacy and safety in his own home. (limerickpost.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Jun2026Man who was convicted after priest followed him from attempted burglary has sentence reduced on appeal
Reports the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court appeal against Sheehan's sentence. The article says the sentence was halved to four months, and also that Judge Daly re-sentenced him to eight months with the final four suspended.
convicted, Jason Sheehan, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Sheehanvictim, Fr Pat Bluett, irish (judged from name)Fr Pat Bluett