Friday 30 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. 17382Trespassing · Co. Longford · 5 May 2023

Man escapes conviction under Probation Act for trespass at Newtownforbes garage

On 5 May 2023, gardaí received reports from Nolan's Garage in Newtownforbes, County Longford, that a man had been seen in the garage's private compound. The court heard that Patrick Maughan, a 39-year-old man, had entered the garage to look for his Audi, which gardaí had seized, and he was charged with trespassing. Maughan, who has 77 previous convictions including one for theft, appeared by video link before Judge Bernadette Owens at Longford District Court. The judge dealt with the case under the Probation Act, so Maughan escaped conviction, a result reported in May 2024.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man was charged with trespassing in the private compound of Nolan's Garage.
Where
The incident took place at Nolan's Garage in Newtownforbes, County Longford.
When
Gardaí received reports on 5 May 2023 that a male had been seen in the garage compound.
Other details
  • The suspect is Patrick Maughan, a 39-year-old man of Cloonart North, Bornacoola, Longford.
  • Maughan accepted he was at Nolan's Garage and that the car had been there for 18 months.
  • Maughan has 77 previous convictions, including one for theft.
  • The court report was published on 7 May 2024 according to the article text, and listed as 2 May 2024 in the article header.
Cause
The court heard that Maughan had entered the garage to look for his Audi, which gardaí had seized.
Charges
Maughan was charged with trespassing.
In court
Maughan appeared by video link at Longford District Court before Judge Bernadette Owens.
Sentence
The judge dealt with the case under the Probation Act, so Maughan escaped conviction.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe trespass took place at a garage in Newtownforbes. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenGardaí received reports on May 5, 2023 that a male had been seen in the private compound of Nolan's Garage. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationMaughan had entered Nolan's to look for his Audi, which gardaí had seized. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeMaughan was charged with trespassing. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtMaughan appeared by video link at Longford District Court before Judge Bernadette Owens. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge dealt with the case under the Probation Act, so Maughan escaped conviction. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherMaughan has 77 previous convictions, including one for theft. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherMaughan accepted he was at Nolan's Garage and the car had been there for 18 months. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 May2024
    Otherlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Longford court: Man was looking for his seized Audi

    Court report on the Longford District Court hearing. Maughan escaped conviction under the Probation Act. Not the same person as case 553, which concerns a 27-year-old Dublin man (different age and address).

    accused, Patrick Maughan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Maughan