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. 13420Assault causing harm, attempted robbery, endangerment, criminal damage · Co. Limerick

Man jailed for stabbing pensioner in Broadford and ramming Garda car

Sean Byrnes, 26, was sentenced at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting a 70-year-old man and attempting to rob him at Broadford, County Limerick, in May 2024. He was also sentenced for endangering two Gardaí by ramming their patrol car in 2021.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced18 Jun
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
36 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatByrnes went to the yard to steal a caravan window to replace a broken one in a caravan he and his family were living in. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatByrnes demanded the victim give him his phone. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatByrnes rammed a Garda patrol car while he was on bail. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe offences against the pensioner took place at an address in Dromcollogher. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe garda vehicle was rammed at O'Grady's supermarket in Ballingarry on 23 June 2021. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe attack took place at Broadford, County Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe Garda car was rammed in the carpark of a post office. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenThe attack on the pensioner happened on 14 May 2024. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe attack took place in May 2024. (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenThe endangerment offence against two Gardaí occurred on June 23, 2021. (limerickpost.ie)
  • causeByrnes drove his car into the garda car, reversed, and drove forward again to escape. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeThe attack followed the pensioner catching Byrnes trying to steal a window from a caravan on his land. (limerickpost.ie)
  • weaponByrnes brandished a screwdriver at the victim. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponByrnes stabbed the victim in the head with a screwdriver. (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationByrnes was arrested on November 11, 2024. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeByrnes pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, assault causing harm and production of a screwdriver. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeByrnes also pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a garda vehicle and endangerment. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeByrnes pleaded guilty to assaulting the victim causing him harm, producing a screwdriver during the assault, and attempted robbery. (limerickpost.ie)
  • chargeByrnes pleaded guilty to endangerment and causing criminal damage to the Garda car. (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtThe sentencing took place at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Colin Daly. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (limerickpost.ie)
  • sentenceByrnes was given a four-year sentence for attempted robbery in Dromcollogher. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceConcurrent two-year terms were imposed for criminal damage and endangerment at O'Grady's supermarket. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe total sentence is seven years and six months, and Byrnes was disqualified from driving for 10 years. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceByrnes was disqualified from driving for 10 years. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceByrnes is to serve seven and a half years in jail. (limerickpost.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge jailed Byrnes for four years for the attack and attempted robbery. (limerickpost.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge gave Byrnes an additional two years and a 10-year road ban for endangering the two Gardaí. (limerickpost.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentences run consecutively to an 18-month sentence Byrnes was already serving. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherThe victim suffered two scalp lacerations requiring procedures and bruising to his forehead and eye. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherByrnes was at large at the time of the 2021 offences because of outstanding bench warrants and an arrest warrant. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe aggravating factors were that Byrnes was disqualified from driving and on bail at the time. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherByrnes has two young children, and his wife has health issues. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge said Byrnes has expressed remorse. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe victim needed seven stitches to his scalp. (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherByrnes has 27 previous convictions. (limerickpost.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Jun2025
    Sentencedlimerickpost.ie, first report
    Man jailed for stabbing pensioner in the head and ramming Garda car while collecting dole

    Court sentencing report. Byrnes is jailed for seven and a half years in total, with the sentences running consecutively to an 18-month sentence he was already serving for a 2019 endangerment offence.

    victim, 70, maleconvicted, Sean Byrnes, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Byrnesvictim, Michael McNamara, irish (judged from name)Michael McNamaravictim, Ollie O'Sullivan, irish (judged from name)Ollie O'Sullivan
  2. 18 Jun2025
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, follow-up
    Pensioner 'thought he was going to be killed' during attack by Limerick man with screwdriver

    Adds the sentencing details: a screwdriver was used, the victim suffered two scalp lacerations and bruising, the attempted robbery was for a caravan window, the total sentence was seven years six months, Byrnes was disqualified from driving for 10 years, and the judge cited his remorse and family circumstances.

    convicted, Sean Byrnes, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Byrnesvictim, 70s, male