Case No. 3015Endangerment, producing a slash hook · Co. Longford · 3 Dec 2018
Longford man jailed for setting dog on Garda inspector, wife given community service for slash hook
Edward 'Blondie' Stokes, 35, was sentenced to three years and three months (two years suspended) at Longford Circuit Court for endangerment after setting his Belgian Shepherd dog on Garda Inspector Tom Quinn in December 2018. His wife Sharon Stokes, 38, was sentenced to 150 hours of community service for producing a slash hook during the same incident.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced22 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatStokes set his Belgian Shepherd dog on Garda Inspector Tom Quinn during a confrontation. (irishtimes.com)
- whatQuinn shot the dog to free himself after it launched at his neck and was pulling out of his tie. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe bullet ricocheted off the ground, passed through the dog, and hit Stokes in the ankle. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA customer agreed to pay €1,500 for Stokes to replace the engine in his Ford Transit pickup van. (irishtimes.com)
- whatQuinn accompanied the customer to Stokes' property to supervise an inspection of the vehicle. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAfter a scuffle, Stokes was disarmed and the customer attempted to drive his vehicle away. (irishtimes.com)
- whatStokes ran to a caged area to retrieve his Belgian Shepherd and goaded it toward Quinn. (irishtimes.com)
- whatQuinn declared that he was armed. (irishtimes.com)
- whatQuinn was recommended for promotion to inspector but the promotion was delayed until August 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident occurred at Ferriskill, Granard, Co Longford. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident took place on 3 December 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeStokes was charged with one count of endangerment. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeSharon Stokes was charged with producing a slash hook. (irishtimes.com)
- courtStokes pleaded guilty in February 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentencing took place at Longford Circuit Court before Judge Kenneth Connolly. (irishtimes.com)
- courtQuinn took a case against Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and the High Court ruled in his favour to backdate his promotion. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceStokes was sentenced to three years and three months with the final two years suspended for five years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe sentence is to be served consecutively to a lengthy sentence with an expiration date in mid-2028. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceSharon Stokes was sentenced to 12 months, commuted to 150 hours of community service within 12 months. (irishtimes.com)
- otherStokes has 27 previous convictions and Sharon Stokes has six. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 22 May2026Garda inspector was in fear of his life when Longford man set dog on him
Sentencing hearing at Longford Circuit Court. Stokes' sentence to be served consecutively to an existing sentence expiring mid-2028. Quinn's victim impact statement detailed the career and reputational damage from circulated video footage, and his delayed promotion to inspector.
victim, Tom Quinn, male, irish (judged from name)Tom Quinnconvicted, 35, male, irish (judged from name)convicted, Sharon Stokes, 38, female, named, irish (judged from name)Sharon Stokes