Ireland Case No. 6033Assault (Section 3) · Co. Donegal · 29 Sep 2022
Man jailed after kicking man in head 18 times at Letterkenny apartments
John 'Nipper' Sweeney, a 29-year-old man, kicked another man 18 times in the head at Burnside Apartments in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, on 29 September 2022 at 4.20pm. Sweeney was initially arrested on a public order charge, later pleaded guilty to a Section 3 assault on the other man, and claimed he acted in self-defence. The case was heard at Letterkenny Circuit Court, where the judge reduced a four-year sentence to three years and suspended the final 12 months on conditions. On 24 April 2024 Sweeney was reported as jailed for two years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced24 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- John 'Nipper' Sweeney kicked a man 18 times in the head.
- Where
- The attack took place at Burnside Apartments in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
- When
- The attack took place on 29 September 2022 at 4.20pm.
- Investigation
- Sweeney was initially arrested on a public order charge.
- CCTV footage of the attack was shown in court, and the court heard Sweeney stopped after someone shouted that gardaí were coming, then returned and kicked the victim again.
- Other details
- Detective Garda Johnny Sweeney told the court it was the worst attack he had seen in 20 years of service.
- Sweeney claimed he acted in self-defence.
- Sweeney has 69 previous convictions, only one of them for assault.
- Charges
- Sweeney pleaded guilty to a Section 3 assault on the other man.
- In court
- The case was heard at Letterkenny Circuit Court in Co Donegal.
- Sentence
- Before mitigation the judge said the attack merited four years in prison.
- The judge reduced the sentence to three years and proposed to suspend the final 12 months on conditions.
- Sweeney was reported on 24 April 2024 as jailed for two years.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatSweeney kicked a man 18 times in the head. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe attack took place at Burnside Apartments. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe attack took place on 29 September 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident at Burnside Apartments happened at 4.20pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationSweeney was initially arrested on a public order charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeSweeney pleaded guilty to a Section 3 assault on the other man. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Letterkenny Circuit Court in Co Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceBefore mitigation the judge said the attack merited four years in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge reduced the four-year sentence to three years in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge proposed to suspend the final 12 months of the sentence on conditions. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceSweeney was jailed for two years. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherCCTV footage of the attack was shown in court. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSweeney claimed he acted in self-defence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSweeney has 69 previous convictions, only one of them for assault. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Apr2024Father-of-two who kicked man in head 18 times 'like a football' jailed
Reports the sentencing of Sweeney, the court's description of the CCTV footage and the sentence reduction and partial suspension. The article says he was jailed for two years.
convicted, John 'Nipper' Sweeney, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)John 'Nipper' Sweeneyvictim, male