Ireland Case No. 2890Assault causing harm, attempted suffocation · Co. Westmeath · 29 Apr 2024
Man jailed for assault and attempted suffocation at Athlone nursing home
Peter Keaney, a man aged 54 (reports differ: 55), was sentenced on 6 December 2024 for assaulting and attempting to suffocate his partner's elderly mother, a woman aged 85 (reports differ: 84), at Sonas Nursing Home in Athlone, Westmeath, on 29 April 2024. He was arrested at the scene and charged with assault causing harm and attempted suffocation. He appeared at Athlone District Court on 1 May 2024, was remanded in custody, and later pleaded guilty to both counts at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on 21 November 2024. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended on condition he did not reoffend for six years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged30 Apr
3 reports - In court1 May
3 reports - Convicted21 Nov
- Sentenced6 Dec
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Peter Keaney, a man aged 54 (reports differ: 55), allegedly assaulted and attempted to suffocate his partner's elderly mother, a woman aged 85 (reports differ: 84), at a nursing home.
- Where
- The attack took place in the victim's room at Sonas Nursing Home on Ballymahon Road, Cloghanboy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
- When
- The attack occurred shortly before 8 pm on Monday 29 April 2024.
- Cause
- Keaney had consumed four bottles of wine and said he was motivated by a mistaken belief that the victim had facilitated abuse of his partner.
- Weapon
- Keaney held a pillow across the victim's face in an attempt to suffocate her.
- Investigation
- Keaney was arrested at the scene and told gardai he tried to kill the victim.
- Charges
- Keaney was charged with assault causing harm under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and attempting to suffocate the victim.
- In court
- Keaney appeared at Athlone District Court on 1 May 2024, was remanded in custody, and referred for a psychiatric assessment.
- Keaney pleaded guilty to both counts at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on 21 November 2024.
- Sentence
- Keaney was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended on condition he did not reoffend for six years, and ordered to remain under Probation Service supervision for 18 months.
- Other details
- The victim needed nine stitches to her head and had bruises and a sore back; she was taken to Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore.
- Keaney's long-term partner of more than 30 years was the victim's daughter.
104 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA woman in her 80s was allegedly assaulted at a care home in the Midlands. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was an elderly woman. (extra.ie)
- 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)
- whatThe 84-year-old woman was attacked as she went to greet Keaney with a hug. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKeaney hit her in the face with his fist, causing her to be stunned, and then punched her onto a chair at the side of her bed. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKeaney put a pillow over the victim's face while she was struggling to get air. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim slipped to the ground where Keaney repeatedly kicked her in the head. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKeaney shouted at the victim while attacking her. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim needed nine stitches to her head and had bruises and a sore back from being knelt on. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKeaney travelled six-and-a-half kilometres by bus and on foot to the nursing home to carry out the attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKeaney was drunk and had consumed four bottles of wine before going to the nursing home. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKeaney told gardai at the scene that he tried to kill the victim. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKeaney told gardai en route to Athlone Garda station that he wanted to kill her and would do it again. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKeaney admitted to gardai that he felt the victim go limp and thought he had killed her. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKeaney signed a Garda notebook in which his comments were recorded. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNursing home staff forced their way through the blocked door and found the victim lying face down on the floor with a blood-covered pillow nearby. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKeaney walked over to the bed, sat on it and waited until gardai arrived and arrested him. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKeaney's long-term partner of more than 30 years was the victim's daughter. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe elderly woman had lived at the nursing home since 2021 and her husband also had a separate room in the home. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKeaney disclosed to gardai that he had suffered sexual abuse as a child and had gone to counselling for eight years. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKeaney attacked and tried to suffocate his partner's elderly mother at a nursing home. (rte.ie)
- whatKeaney hit the woman in the face with his fist and kept hitting her. (rte.ie)
- whatKeaney put a pillow over the woman's face. (rte.ie)
- whatKeaney repeatedly kicked the woman in the head after she slipped to the ground. (rte.ie)
- whatKeaney pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and attempting to suffocate the victim. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe assault occurred at an unnamed care home in Westmeath. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault took place in a nursing home. (extra.ie)
- 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 assault took place at Sonas Nursing Home on Athlone's Ballymahon Road. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe attack happened at Sonas Nursing Home on Ballymahon Road in Cloghanboy, Athlone. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at the Sonas home, Ballymahon Road, Athlone. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe attack happened at Sonas Nursing Home in Athlone. (rte.ie)
- whereThe attack happened at the Sonas retirement home on Ballymahon Road, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe attack happened on Monday night. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe assault happened on the Monday night before the court appearance. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged assault took place on 29 April. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe attack happened on the evening of Monday 29 April. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe attack occurred shortly before 8 pm on 29 April 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenKeaney arrived at the nursing home at around 8pm on 29 April. (rte.ie)
- whenThe attack happened shortly before 8pm on 29 April 2024. (thejournal.ie)
- causeKeaney had been drinking heavily on the day of the attack. (rte.ie)
- causeKeaney said he was motivated by a mistaken belief that the victim had facilitated abuse of his partner. (rte.ie)
- causeKeaney had been drinking heavily before the attack. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponKeaney held a pillow across the victim's face in an attempt to suffocate her. (thejournal.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)
- investigationGardaí handed in evidence of the defendant's arrest, charge and caution. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationKeaney stayed at the scene until gardaí arrived and arrested him. (rte.ie)
- investigationKeaney told gardaí at the scene that he tried to kill the victim. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeA man has been charged in connection with the alleged assault. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA man has been charged following a serious assault. (extra.ie)
- 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)
- chargeThe man was charged with assaulting the woman, causing her harm. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeKeaney is charged with Section 3 assault causing harm to an 85-year-old woman. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeKeaney pleaded guilty to two counts under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act for assault causing harm and attempting to suffocate the victim by holding a pillow across her face. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeKeaney was charged with assault causing harm. (rte.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)
- courtNo bail application was made at the hearing. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe State said it would oppose any bail application. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe accused was referred for a psychiatric assessment and report while in custody. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge approved the application for free legal aid. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe accused was remanded in custody. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe accused is due to appear again at Athlone District Court on 8 May. (thejournal.ie)
- 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)
- courtKeaney pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and attempting to suffocate the woman. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceKeaney was remanded in custody until the following Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceKeaney was jailed for three and a half years. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- sentenceKeaney was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended. (rte.ie)
- sentenceJudge Johnson imposed a sentence of four years and six months. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe final 12 months were suspended on condition Keaney did not reoffend for six years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceKeaney was ordered to remain under Probation Service supervision for 18 months after his release from prison. (thejournal.ie)
- 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)
- otherThe State sought a one-week adjournment to await instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. (thejournal.ie)
- 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)
- otherThe victim needed nine stitches to her head. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- otherKeaney told gardaí at the scene that he tried to kill the woman. (rte.ie)
- otherKeaney has no previous convictions. (rte.ie)
- otherThe victim did not attend the hearing or give a victim impact statement. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge found there were elements of premeditation because Keaney travelled 6.5km to the nursing home. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 6 Dec2024Man jailed for trying to suffocate his partner's elderly mother in nursing home
Reports the sentencing at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on 6 December 2024: three and a half years in prison with the final 12 months suspended, plus probation supervision and conditions. Adds the guilty plea, the judge's remarks and the victim's injuries.
convicted, Peter Keaney, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Peter Keaneyvictim, 85, female - 6 Dec2024Man jailed for assault of elderly woman in nursing home
Reports the sentencing at Mullingar Circuit Court: four and a half years with the final 12 months suspended, while the lead says jailed for three and a half years. Adds the victim's injuries, Keaney's admissions and guilty plea, and that he has no previous convictions.
convicted, Peter Keaney, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Peter Keaneyvictim, 85, female - 21 Nov2024Man pleads guilty to trying to suffocate partner's elderly mum in nursing home
Plea hearing at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court; sentencing adjourned to 5 December 2024.
victim, 84, femaleaccused, Peter Keaney, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Peter Keaney - 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 in court charged with assaulting woman (80s) at Athlone nursing home
Court report of the first district court appearance: the man was charged, remanded in custody, referred for a psychiatric assessment and granted free legal aid, and is due back at Athlone District Court on 8 May.
accused, Peter Keaney, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Peter Keaneyvictim, 80s, 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 Following Serious Assault Of Elderly Woman In Nursing Home
Only the headline is available; the article body is a template placeholder. The location and incident date are not stated in the supplied text, so the county is left blank.
accused, malevictim, female - 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