Ireland Man charged with assault causing harm on 85-year-old woman at Athlone nursing home
On the evening of Monday 29 April 2024, an 85-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted in her room at Sonas Nursing Home on Ballymahon Road in Athlone, Co Westmeath, and was taken to Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore, where her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. Gardaí arrested a man aged 54 at the scene, later named as Peter Keaney, of Hillside Close, Monksland, Athlone, and he was charged with one count of assault causing harm under Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. On Wednesday 1 May 2024 he appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at Athlone District Court, where no bail application was made and he was granted free legal aid. The judge directed a psychiatric assessment, remanded him in custody until Wednesday 8 May 2024, and DPP directions are still awaited.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged30 Apr
2 reports - In court1 May
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- An 85-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted in her room at the nursing home where she lived; an earlier report described her as in her 80s.
- Where
- The alleged assault took place at Sonas Nursing Home on Ballymahon Road, Cloghanboy, Athlone, Co Westmeath; the first Irish Times report did not name the home.
- When
- The alleged assault happened on the evening of Monday 29 April 2024.
- Other details
- Gardaí believe the attacker was an intruder who entered through a door at the home.
- The woman was treated at Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore, and her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
- Further directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions are awaited.
- Investigation
- Gardaí investigated a serious assault, and a man aged 54 was arrested at the scene.
- Charges
- Peter Keaney, 54, of Hillside Close, Monksland, Athlone, is charged with one count of assault causing harm under Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
- In court
- On Wednesday 1 May 2024 Keaney appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at Athlone District Court and did not speak during the brief hearing.
- His solicitor, Mark Cooney, made no bail application and reserved Keaney's position on any future application; gardaí said they would object and asked for 48 hours' notice.
- Keaney was granted free legal aid after the judge heard he was on a community employment scheme.
- The judge directed a psychiatric assessment and report on Keaney.
- The judge remanded Keaney in custody until Wednesday 8 May 2024.
42 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA woman in her 80s was allegedly assaulted at a care home in the Midlands. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA woman in her 80s was attacked by a man at the nursing home where she lived. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe assault took place in the woman's room. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was an 85-year-old woman. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man has appeared in court charged in connection with an attack on an elderly woman at a nursing home. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe assault occurred at an unnamed care home in Westmeath. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attack happened at a nursing home in Athlone. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault took place at the Sonas Nursing Home in Athlone. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attack happened at Sonas Nursing Home on Ballymahon Road in Cloghanboy, Athlone. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe attack happened on Monday night. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe assault happened on the Monday night before the court appearance. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe attack happened on the evening of Monday 29 April. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí confirmed they were investigating a serious assault. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are investigating a serious assault at a care home in Athlone. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationKeaney was arrested at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA man has been charged in connection with the alleged assault. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe arrested man has since been charged in connection with the assault. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeKeaney is charged with one count of assault causing harm under Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeKeaney is charged with Section 3 assault causing harm to an 85-year-old woman. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe man is due to appear before Athlone District Court on Wednesday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe man was due to appear before the District Court in Athlone on Wednesday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- courtKeaney appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at Athlone District Court on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtKeaney did not speak during the brief court hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- courtNo bail application was made, and Keaney reserved his position on any future application. (irishtimes.com)
- courtKeaney was granted free legal aid after the judge heard he was on a community employment scheme. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge directed that a psychiatric assessment be carried out on Keaney. (irishtimes.com)
- courtFurther directions in the case are awaited from the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishtimes.com)
- courtKeaney appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at Athlone District Court on Wednesday 1 May. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThere is no application for bail at this time, and the solicitor requested remand in custody for one week. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge remanded the accused in custody until Wednesday 8 May. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe accused was referred for a psychiatric assessment and report. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceKeaney was remanded in custody until the following Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman was taken to Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore for treatment. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA man in his 50s was arrested at the scene by Gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDetails of what is alleged to have happened are unclear. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí believe the attacker was an intruder who entered through a door at the home. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman was taken to Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore for treatment. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKeaney is from Hillside Close, Monksland, Athlone. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí told the court there would be objections to any bail application and asked for 48 hours' notice of one. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThere are no directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions yet. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherLegal aid was granted to the accused. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 May2024Man appears in court charged in connection with nursing home attack on woman, 85
Names the accused as Peter Keaney, 54, of Hillside Close, Monksland, and the nursing home as Sonas Nursing Home. Reports the court appearance on 1 May, the remand in custody until 8 May, the psychiatric assessment order, and that no bail application has been made and no DPP directions are yet in place.
accused, Peter Keaney, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Peter Keaneyvictim, 85, female - 1 May2024Man (54) appears in court charged with assaulting woman in Athlone nursing home
Irish Times report of the court appearance. It adds that he was arrested at the scene, that he was granted free legal aid, that no bail application was made, that he was remanded in custody until the following Wednesday, and that the DPP's further directions are awaited.
accused, Peter Keaney, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Peter Keaneyvictim, 85, female - 1 May2024Woman in her 80s receiving treatment in hospital after attack at nursing home
Adds Garda Headquarters statement: the man was arrested at the scene, has been charged, the woman's injuries are not believed to be life threatening, and the suspect is described as an intruder who entered via a door. Does not name the accused.
victim, 80s, femaleaccused, 50s, male - 30 Apr2024Man charged after alleged assault on woman (80s) in Westmeath care home
Confirms the charge and the Athlone District Court appearance. Adds that the man was arrested at the scene, that the woman was treated at Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore, and that her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The article does not name the care home or the accused.
victim, 80s, femaleaccused, 50s, male