Thursday 29 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. 10503Assault causing harm · Co. Limerick · 24 Dec 2024

Man jailed for six years and nine months over Christmas Eve attack at Galbally, Limerick

In the early hours of December 24, 2024, Stephen Power (34), of Garryowen, Limerick, is alleged to have broken into a woman's home at Galbally, County Limerick, where he beat her in front of her young children and stabbed her boyfriend. Gardaí arrested him the morning after the attack and charged him with assault causing harm, criminal damage and aggravated burglary. He pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to one count of assault causing harm against the boyfriend on a full facts basis. On March 13, 2026, Judge Colin Daly sentenced him to six years and nine months in prison, with the final nine months suspended.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man is alleged to have beaten a woman in front of her young children at her home.
  • The man is alleged to have stabbed the woman's boyfriend twice.
  • The man is alleged to have continued attacking the woman outside her house.
  • The man is alleged to have slashed the tyres of the woman's car on the same night.
  • The man is alleged to have damaged a doorbell camera to try to destroy video evidence.
Where
The incident took place at the woman's home at Galbally, County Limerick.
When
The incident happened in the early hours of December 24, 2024.
Weapon
The man is alleged to have been armed with a knife when he entered the house, and gardaí recovered a knife and a broken blade at the scene.
Investigation
Gardaí arrested the man the morning after the attack.
Charges
He was charged with assault causing harm to the woman and her boyfriend, criminal damage, and aggravated burglary.
In court
  • He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to the boyfriend on a full facts basis.
  • Judge Colin Daly sentenced him at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, with the sentence reported on March 13, 2026.
Sentence
He was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison, with the final nine months suspended.
Other details
The court heard he had prior convictions including arson, possession of knives, possession of drugs for sale or supply, burglary, theft and criminal damage.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe attacker beat the woman in front of her young children and stabbed her boyfriend. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatThe boyfriend was stabbed twice. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatThe attacker continued to attack the woman outside her house. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatThe attacker slashed tyres on the woman's car on the same night. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatThe attacker damaged a doorbell camera to try to destroy video evidence. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe break-in was at the woman's home at Galbally, County Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenThe break-in happened in the early hours of Christmas Eve 2024. (limerickpost.ie)
  • weaponThe attacker was armed with a knife when he entered the house. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationGardaí recovered a knife and a broken blade at the scene. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested the man the morning after the attack. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with assault causing harm to the woman and her boyfriend, criminal damage, and aggravated burglary. (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to the boyfriend on a full facts basis. (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtJudge Colin Daly sentenced him at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (limerickpost.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison, with the final nine months suspended. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherThe court heard he had prior convictions including arson, possession of knives, and burglary. (limerickpost.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Mar2026
    Sentencedlimerickpost.ie, first report
    Man who beat woman in front of her children and knifed her partner jailed

    Reports the sentencing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court: six years and nine months in prison with the final nine months suspended, after a guilty plea to assault causing harm to the boyfriend.

    convicted, Stephen Power, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Powervictim, femalevictim, male