Thursday 29 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. 10179Assault causing harm · Co. Limerick · 23 Mar 2024

Limerick man jailed over hammer attack at St Mary's Park

On 23 March 2024, a 19-year-old man was struck at least 10 times with hammers at St Mary's Park in Limerick city, after 20-year-old Jake Collopy and two other men arrived at an address on St Ita's Street where the victim was visiting. Collopy pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a weapon. At Limerick Circuit Court, Judge Colin Daly imposed sentence, and reports in April 2026 give two different terms: four and a half years' imprisonment in one place, and five and a half years with the final year suspended for five years in another.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced2 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A 19-year-old man was visiting an address on St Ita's Street when Jake Collopy and two other men arrived and knocked on the door.
Where
The attack took place at St Mary's Park in Limerick city, in a residential setting.
When
The attack took place on 23 March 2024, in broad daylight.
Weapon
The victim was struck at least 10 times with hammers, which had been bought in B&Q shortly before the attack.
Other details
  • The victim suffered a fractured skull, was transferred to Cork University Hospital and later needed surgery.
  • The court heard that the victim has since made a good recovery.
  • The judge said CCTV showed that Collopy played a principal role in the attack and that the residential setting in broad daylight was an aggravating factor.
  • The judge gave credit in mitigation for Collopy's early guilty plea, his personal circumstances and his expressed remorse.
  • Collopy is considered to be of relatively good character and has not come to Garda attention since the incident.
Charges
Collopy pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and to producing a weapon.
In court
Judge Colin Daly imposed sentence at Limerick Circuit Court.
Sentence
Sources disagree: the article's opening reports four and a half years' imprisonment, while the article body reports five and a half years with the final year suspended for five years.
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe injured party was visiting an address on St Ita's Street when Collopy and two other men arrived and knocked on the door. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe injured party was struck at least 10 times. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at St Mary's Park in Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on March 23, 2024. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponThe injured party was beaten with hammers. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponThe hammers had been bought in B&Q shortly before the attack. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeJake Collopy pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeCollopy also pleaded guilty to producing a weapon. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtSentence was imposed at Limerick Circuit Court by Judge Colin Daly. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceCollopy was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended for five years. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe article's introduction reports a four and a half year jail sentence. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe injured party suffered a fractured skull. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe injured party was transferred to Cork University Hospital and later needed surgery. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe court heard the injured man has since made a good recovery. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge said CCTV showed Collopy played a principal role in the attack. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge said the attack in a residential setting in broad daylight was an aggravating factor. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge gave credit for Collopy's early guilty plea and personal circumstances in mitigation. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge said Collopy expressed remorse. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherCollopy is considered to be of relatively good character and has not come to Garda attention since the incident. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Apr2026
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    'Upsetting and distressing' - Limerick man jailed over vicious and ferocious hammer attack

    Reports the sentencing of Jake Collopy, who pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a weapon for an attack on a 19-year-old man with hammers in March 2024. The article's opening line says he was jailed for four and a half years, while the body says five and a half years with the final year suspended.

    convicted, Jake Collopy, 20, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jake Collopyvictim, 19, male