Ireland Limerick man jailed for stabbing man in Galbally home
A man broke into a house in Galbally, Co Limerick, in the early hours of Christmas Eve 2024 and stabbed another man twice in the back in front of an 11-year-old boy, who raised the alarm. The victim needed urgent treatment and surgery at University Hospital Limerick. Stephen Power was arrested at the scene, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm, and on 11 March 2026 was sentenced to six years at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced11 Mar
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A man broke into a house and stabbed another man twice in the back.
- The attack was witnessed by an 11-year-old boy, who raised the alarm.
- Where
- The assault took place at an address in Galbally, Co Limerick.
- When
- The attack happened in the early hours of Christmas Eve 2024; one article says it followed a forced entry shortly after midnight on 23 December.
- Cause
- There had been conflict between two women, the partners of the accused and the victim, who were neighbours in Galbally.
- Weapon
- A knife was recovered at the scene.
- Other details
- The victim required urgent treatment and surgery at University Hospital Limerick for two stab wounds to his back.
- The judge said the presence of children and the proximity of Christmas were aggravating factors, and called the presence of children especially egregious.
- The judge noted 24 relevant previous convictions for Stephen Power.
- In mitigation, the judge took into account the guilty plea and Mr Power's addiction.
- The victim and his partner declined to make victim impact statements.
- Investigation
- Gardaí arrested Stephen Power at the scene.
- Charges
- Stephen Power pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm; one article gives the plea date as 24 December 2024.
- In court
- The case was heard at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Colin Daly.
- Sentence
- Stephen Power was sentenced to six years in prison on 11 March 2026.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe accused broke into a house and stabbed a man twice in the back. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe victim needed urgent treatment and surgery for two stab wounds in his back. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe assault took place at an address in Galbally. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe attack happened in the early hours of Christmas Eve. (limerickleader.ie)
- causeThere had been conflict between two women, partners of the accused and the victim, who were neighbours in Galbally. (limerickleader.ie)
- weaponA knife was recovered at the scene. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested Mr Power at the scene. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeStephen Power pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe judge said the presence of children and the proximity of Christmas were aggravating factors. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe judge noted 24 relevant previous convictions for Stephen Power. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherIn mitigation, the judge took into account the guilty plea and Mr Power's addiction. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 11 Mar2026Child raises the alarm on Christmas Eve after seeing man stabbed in the back in Limerick home
Sentencing report for an incident at an address in Galbally. The judge said the attack followed a forced entry shortly after midnight on 23 December, and that an 11-year-old boy witnessed it and raised the alarm. The article gives the plea date as December 24, 2024, and the court heard that both the victim and his partner declined to make victim impact statements.
convicted, Stephen Power, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Powervictim, male