Ireland Longford man jailed for false imprisonment and assault of former partner
On the night of April 1 into the early hours of April 2, 2023, Paul Boyce (46), a man from Legan, Co Longford, refused to take his former partner home during a near three-hour ordeal. He assaulted and threatened to kill her, stopping the vehicle at an isolated bog in Aghnavealogue, Legan. He had earlier pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and a section 3 assault of her, and a charge of endangerment was dropped by nolle prosequi. In January, just over two days into a jury trial, he pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to her, and in March 2024 Judge Kenneth Connolly sentenced him at Longford Circuit Court to six and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended and the sentence backdated to April 4, 2023, when he first went into custody.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced27 Mar
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Paul Boyce, a 46-year-old man, was the accused in a case involving false imprisonment, assault and threatening to kill his former partner, a woman.
- Mr Boyce refused to take the woman home during a near three-hour ordeal.
- When she told him he could not come in, he kept driving without letting her out of the car.
- Mr Boyce assaulted and threatened to kill her.
- Where
- Mr Boyce stopped the vehicle at an isolated bog in Aghnavealogue, Legan, Co Longford.
- When
- The incident occurred on the night of April 1 into the early hours of April 2, 2023.
- Cause
- Mr Boyce and the woman had drunk a number of drinks at a pub in Rathowen; one source calls her his fiancée, while the articles call her his former partner.
- Charges
- Mr Boyce had previously pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and a section 3 assault of his former partner.
- A charge of endangerment was dropped by nolle prosequi.
- In court
- In January, just over two days into a jury trial, a guilty plea was entered to a charge of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to his partner.
- Detective Garda Brendan Lynn gave evidence of the incident; one source places this at Roscommon Circuit Court, while the articles place the case at Longford Circuit Court.
- Sentence
- Judge Kenneth Connolly sentenced Mr Boyce to six years and six months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years.
- The sentence was backdated to April 4, 2023, when Mr Boyce first went into custody.
- Other details
- Mr Boyce has 15 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMr Boyce refused to take the victim home during a near three-hour ordeal. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatMr Boyce assaulted and threatened to kill his former partner. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereMr Boyce stopped the vehicle at an isolated bog in Aghnavealogue, Legan. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on the night of April 1 into the early hours of April 2, 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
- causeMr Boyce and his fiancée drank a number of drinks at a pub in Rathowen. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeMr Boyce had previously pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and a section 3 assault of his former partner. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeA charge of endangerment was dropped by nolle prosequi. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtA guilty plea was entered to a charge of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to his partner, just over two days into a jury trial in January. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtDetective Garda Brendan Lynn gave evidence of the incident at Roscommon Circuit Court. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceJudge Kenneth Connolly sentenced Mr Boyce to six years and six months in prison. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe final 12 months of the sentence were suspended for two years. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to April 4, 2023, when Mr Boyce first went into custody. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherWhen the partner told Mr Boyce he could not come in, he kept driving without letting her out of the car. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherMr Boyce has 15 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences. (longfordleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Mar2024Longford man jailed for false imprisonment and assault of partner
First report of this case. Gives the sentence, the backdating, the pleas, the location of the incident and the defendant's previous convictions.
convicted, Paul Boyce, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Boycevictim, female