Sunday 1 November 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. 22930Death in custody · Co. Limerick

Man jailed for rural burglary found dead in cell at Limerick Prison

Edward Woodland, 23, of Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, was found dead in his cell at Limerick Prison on 12 January 2023, hours after beginning a five-year sentence for a 2018 burglary at a farmhouse in Tiermaclane, Co Clare. No foul play is suspected and Gardaí and the Irish Prison Service are conducting separate investigations.

  1. Reported13 Jan
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced11 Jan
    4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
52 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatNothing was taken in the burglary. (irishtimes.com, limerickleader.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe raiders kicked in the door, broke a lock, and ransacked the home looking for cash. (clareecho.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • whatNothing was taken in the burglary and no violence or threat of violence was used. (clareecho.ie)
  • whatJudge Garavan stated the burglary was premeditated and carefully thought out. (clareecho.ie)
  • whatFour members of a Limerick-based crime gang received prison sentences for a burglary at an isolated farmhouse in County Clare. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatAll four defendants pleaded guilty to burglary charges. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatJudge Eoin Garavan accepted there was no threat of violence and violence was not used. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe offence was premeditated and carefully thought out. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThree of the burglars fled after discovering O'Connor was asleep and were caught by Gardaí trying to escape through fields. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatEdward Woodland was found unresponsive in his cell at Limerick Prison at around 6am on Thursday 12 January 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe was found during a routine cell check and no foul play is suspected. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatEdward Woodland was 23 years old and from Greenmount Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe was in receipt of disability benefit for being lactose intolerant. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe gang broke a lock, kicked in the farmhouse door and ransacked the property looking for cash. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí attended the discovery of a body of a man in his 20s at Limerick Prison at approximately 7am on Thursday 12 January 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe body was removed to University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem will take place at a later date. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe burglary was at an isolated farmhouse at Ballyveskill, Tiermaclane, 9km from Ennis in Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe burglary took place at an isolated farmhouse at Ballyveskill, Tiermaclane, nine km from Ennis in Co Clare. (clareecho.ie)
  • whereThe burglary took place at Ballyveskill, Tiermaclane, 9km from Ennis. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe burglary occurred at an isolated farmhouse at Ballyveskill, Tiermaclane, near Ennis, Co Clare. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe burglary occurred at around 3.30pm on 5 January 2018. (irishtimes.com, limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe burglary occurred on 5 January 2018 at around 3.30pm. (clareecho.ie)
  • whenThe burglary took place on 5 January 2018 at around 3.30pm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe burglary occurred on 5 January 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí were on the scene because they knew a burglary was going to take place due to intelligence received. (clareecho.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí and the Irish Prison Service are conducting separate investigations in line with normal procedures after a death in custody. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeAll four defendants pleaded guilty to burglary. (irishtimes.com, clareecho.ie)
  • chargeAll four accused men pleaded guilty to burglary at an isolated farmhouse at Ballyveskill, Tiermaclane, 9km from Ennis, Co Clare. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Eoin Garavan commented that it is extraordinary that the State pays disability benefit for lactose intolerance. (clareecho.ie)
  • courtThe sentencing took place at Ennis Circuit Court before Judge Eoin Garavan. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Garavan described the disability benefit for lactose intolerance as extraordinary. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe four defendants received cumulative sentences of 18½ years with 4½ years suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentencePatrick Woodland was sentenced to five years in prison. (irishtimes.com, clareecho.ie)
  • sentenceEdward Woodland was sentenced to five years with the final year suspended. (irishtimes.com, clareecho.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceJohn Woodland was sentenced to five years with the final two years suspended. (irishtimes.com, clareecho.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • sentencePaul Kiely was sentenced to 3½ years with the final 18 months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceCumulative sentences totalling 18.5 years with 4.5 years suspended were imposed on the four defendants. (clareecho.ie)
  • sentencePaul Kiely was sentenced to 3.5 years with the final 1.5 years suspended. (clareecho.ie)
  • sentencePatrick Woodland was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentencePaul Kiely was sentenced to three and a half years with the final 18 months suspended. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentencePatrick Woodland was sentenced to a five-year prison term. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceEdward Woodland was sentenced to a five-year prison term with the final year suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJohn Woodland was sentenced to a five-year jail term with the final two years suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentencePaul Kiely was sentenced to three-and-a-half years with the final one-and-a-half years suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceHe and three accomplices were jailed for a total of 18.5 years with 4.5 years suspended at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceEdward Woodland received a sentence of five years with the final year suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJudge Garavan said it was extraordinary that the State pays disability benefit for lactose intolerance. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPatrick and John Woodland were each jailed for three years in 2012 for a similar burglary in Galway in 2011. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPatrick Woodland and John Woodland were each jailed for three years in 2012 for a similar burglary committed in Galway in 2011. (clareecho.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPatrick Woodland and John Woodland were each jailed for three years in 2012 for a similar burglary in Galway in 2011. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherEdward Woodland receives disability benefit from the Department of Social Welfare for lactose intolerance. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe next of kin have been notified of the death. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Jan2023
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Man jailed for rural burglary found dead in cell just hours into prison sentence

    Reports the death in custody of Edward Woodland at Limerick Prison and provides background on the 2018 rural burglary at Ballyveskill, Tiermaclane, Co Clare, for which he and three accomplices were sentenced at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on 9 January 2023.

    convicted, Edward Woodland, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Edward Woodlandvictim, James (Jimmy) O'Connor, 97, male, irish (judged from name)James (Jimmy) O'Connor
  2. 11 Jan2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, its first report
    Limerick burglary gang member gets disability benefit for lactose intoleranance

    Provides full sentencing details for all four defendants, the judge's comments on disability benefit, the decoy tactic used to lure the victim's son away, and prior convictions of Patrick and John Woodland for a similar 2011 Galway burglary.

    victim, James (Jimmy) O'Connor, 97, male, irish (judged from name)James (Jimmy) O'Connorconvicted, Edward Woodland, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Edward Woodlandconvicted, Patrick Woodland, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Woodlandconvicted, John Woodland, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Woodlandconvicted, Paul Kiely, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Kiely
  3. 11 Jan2023
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, its first report
    Limerick gang members jailed over burglary at isolated farmhouse in County Clare

    Reports the full sentencing hearing at Ennis Circuit Court, detailing the premeditated nature of the burglary, the decoy used to lure the victim's son away, the judge's comments on rural crime, prior convictions of two defendants, and the individual sentences imposed on all four guilty defendants.

    victim, James (Jimmy) O'Connor, 97, male, irish (judged from name)James (Jimmy) O'Connorvictim, Vincent O'Connor, male, irish (judged from name)Vincent O'Connorconvicted, Patrick Woodland, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Woodlandconvicted, Edward Woodland, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Edward Woodlandconvicted, John Woodland, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Woodlandconvicted, Paul Kiely, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Kiely
  4. 11 Jan2023
    Sentencedclareecho.ie, its first report
    Lactose intolerant gangster sentenced for burglary on 97-year old’s Ennis farmhouse - Clare Echo

    Full details of the sentencing hearing at Ennis Circuit Court, including Judge Garavan's remarks on Woodland's lactose intolerance disability benefit, the individual sentences for all four defendants, the method of the burglary (kicked-in door, decoy to lure the son away), and prior convictions of Patrick and John Woodland.

    victim, James (Jimmy) O'Connor, 97, male, irish (judged from name)James (Jimmy) O'Connorvictim, Vincent O'Connor, male, irish (judged from name)Vincent O'Connorsuspect, Edward Woodland, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Edward Woodlandsuspect, Patrick Woodland, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Woodlandsuspect, John Woodland, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Woodlandsuspect, Paul Kiely, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Kiely
  5. 11 Jan2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man jailed for rural burglary gets disability benefit for lactose intolerance, court told

    Provides full details of the sentencing hearing, including the judge's comments on Edward Woodland's disability benefit for lactose intolerance, the individual sentences imposed on all four defendants, the method of the burglary (kicked-in door, decoy to lure the son away), and prior convictions of Patrick and John Woodland for a similar 2011 Galway burglary.

    victim, James (Jimmy) O'Connor, 97, male, irish (judged from name)James (Jimmy) O'Connorvictim, Vincent O'Connor, male, irish (judged from name)Vincent O'Connorconvicted, Patrick Woodland, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Woodlandconvicted, Edward Woodland, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Edward Woodlandconvicted, John Woodland, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Woodlandconvicted, Paul Kiely, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Kiely