Thursday 5 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. 14405Assault · Co. Longford · 30 Apr 2021

Man sentenced for aggravated burglary and assault in Longford

William Stokes, 31, from Longford, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Tullamore Circuit Court in February 2025 after pleading guilty to assault, aggravated burglary and assault causing harm. The charges related to incidents in April, June and July 2021 at Mostrim Oaks, Edgeworthstown, and Fallon's Hardware Store, Longford, involving his dead brother's partner Michaela Liddy and his cousin Christopher Stokes. Stokes was arrested on 24 June 2021, remanded in custody, and later allowed to return to Longford on varied bail conditions in November 2021. Judge Connolly imposed the sentence, noting Stokes had eleven previous convictions and was rated high risk of reoffending.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court30 Jun
    3 reports
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Feb
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Stokes grabbed Michaela Liddy by the neck, pushed her against a wall, flung her onto the stairs, grabbed her by the hair, and verbally abused her during an incident at her home in Mostrim Oaks, Edgeworthstown, on the night of 30 April 2021.
  • Stokes sprayed his cousin Christopher Stokes with pepper spray and tried to punch and kick him at Fallon's Hardware Store, Longford, on 17 July 2021.
Where
The incidents took place at Mostrim Oaks, Edgeworthstown, and Fallon's Hardware Store on the outskirts of Longford town.
When
The first incident occurred on the night of 30 April 2021, a second incident involving Liddy took place in June 2021, and the pepper spray incident occurred on 17 July 2021.
Weapon
Stokes used a metal pole and pepper spray during the incidents.
Investigation
Stokes was interviewed three times by gardaí on 21 June 2021 and exercised his right to silence for most of the questioning.
Charges
Stokes was charged with assault, aggravated burglary and assault causing harm.
In court
Stokes pleaded guilty when the matter was first heard in Longford Circuit Court.
Sentence
Judge Connolly imposed a three and a half year custodial sentence at Tullamore Circuit Court.
Other details
  • Stokes had eleven previous convictions and a probation assessment rated him as high risk of reoffending.
  • Following his brother's death, Stokes had been a frequent visitor to Michaela Liddy's home.
  • The woman's children aged one, three, four and five witnessed the first incident.
59 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatStokes followed her into the kitchen, grabbed her arm, turned her around, grabbed her face, squeezed her cheeks and tried to kiss her again. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe woman ran upstairs to lock herself in the bedroom but tripped and fell on the bottom step. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatStokes stood over the fallen woman and made comments on her size and how easily she can be grabbed before leaving. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe injured party took photographs of the bruising caused by the first incident. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatStokes grabbed the woman's neck, pushed her against the wall in the hallway and then pushed her onto the stairs. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatStokes verbally abused the woman and accused her of being involved with Christopher Stokes. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe woman's children aged one, three, four and five witnessed the incident. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatA neighbour who heard shouting and roaring looked out the window and saw Stokes with a metal bar. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatIt is alleged Stokes returned after leaving the house and warned the woman not to go to the gardaí. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatChristopher Stokes had severe pain to his eyes and was washing his eyes when Garda Buckley arrived at his house in Springlawn. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatChristopher Stokes informed Garda Buckley he was assaulted by William Stokes with pepper spray. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatChristopher Stokes attended Midoc the evening of the incident. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatA man who attacked his dead brother's partner was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatStokes grabbed the victim, pushed her to a wall and said "Come on." (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatStokes grabbed the victim by the neck and flung her against the stairs. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatStokes called the victim a prostitute and a whore. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatStokes grabbed the victim by the hair after she denied an allegation about his cousin. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatStokes sprayed his cousin with pepper spray, then tried to punch and kick him. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatStokes grabbed Ms Liddy by the neck and flung her against the stairs during a June 2021 incident. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatStokes grabbed Ms Liddy by the hair. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatStokes sprayed his cousin with pepper spray and then tried to punch and kick him on July 17, 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe first incident occurred at a home in the Mostrim Oaks housing estate. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe victim lived at Mostrim Oaks, Edgeworthstown. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereMs Liddy's home was at Mostrim Oaks, Edgeworthstown. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe pepper spray incident took place at Fallon's Hardware Store on the outskirts of Longford town. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenStokes was arrested shortly after 1pm on Thursday 24 June 2021. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe first alleged incident took place on the night of 30 April 2021 into 1 May 2021 at approximately midnight. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe second incident involving Christopher Stokes took place at 7.45pm on 10 June 2021. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenStokes called at the victim's home at around midnight on April 30, 2021 without calling in advance. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe second incident, involving pepper spray, took place on July 17, 2021. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenStokes went to Ms Liddy's home on April 30, 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponStokes left the house and returned with a metal pole, which he held over her head while holding her up by her hair. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationStokes was interviewed three times by gardaí on June 21, 2021 and exercised his right to silence for most of the questioning. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí interviewed Stokes three times on June 21, 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeStokes was charged with aggravated burglary and two section 3 assaults. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeThe man faced charges of assault, aggravated burglary and assault causing harm. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeStokes was charged with assault, aggravated burglary and assault causing harm. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtStokes is to stay out of Longford town and Edgeworthstown save for court appearances and medical appointments. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Kilraine dropped the sign-on conditions completely and ordered Stokes to remain contactable by mobile phone 24/7. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtStokes is to abide by a curfew of 8pm to 8am and cooperate with gardaí who inspect the curfew. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtStokes is due to reappear at Longford Circuit Court on 11 January 2022 at 10.30am. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Kilraine dropped the sign-on conditions completely but ordered Stokes to remain contactable by mobile phone 24/7. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtStokes must abide by a curfew of 8pm to 8am and cooperate with gardaí who inspect the curfew. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtWilliam Stokes pleaded guilty when the matter was first heard in Longford Circuit Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtBoth parties declined to give victim impact statements. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtStokes was sentenced at Tullamore Circuit Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtStokes pleaded guilty when the matter was first heard in Longford Circuit Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtNeither party gave victim impact statements. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Connolly imposed a three and a half year custodial sentence. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceStokes was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherFollowing his brother's death, Stokes had been a frequent visitor to the woman's home. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThere were no independent witnesses or CCTV footage of the assault on Christopher Stokes. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherStokes has been living in Dublin with his partner and her family, with thirteen people in a three-bedroom house. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherStokes had paid a bail bond of €1,000. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHis father had lodged independent surety of €500. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherStokes was living in Dublin with his partner and her family, with thirteen people in a three-bedroom house. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherStokes' solicitor is Ms Fiona Baxter. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherStokes had eleven previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherA probation assessment rated Stokes as a high risk of reoffending. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Feb2025
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Man in court in Tullamore receives prison sentence following attack on dead brother's partner

    No existing case matches this sentencing of William Stokes. The article covers the court outcome, charges, and the incidents from April, June and July 2021 in Edgeworthstown and Longford.

    convicted, William Stokes, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Stokesvictim, Michaela Liddy, female, irish (judged from name)Michaela Liddyvictim, Christopher Stokes, male, irish (judged from name)Christopher Stokes
  2. 27 Feb2025
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    'Remorseful' Longford man receives prison sentence following attack on dead brother's partner

    Sentencing report for a 2021 case: details of the three incidents, Stokes's guilty plea, the three and a half year sentence imposed by Judge Connolly, and his previous convictions and risk assessment. No existing case matches.

    convicted, William Stokes, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Stokesvictim, Michaela Liddy, irish (judged from name)Michaela Liddyvictim, Christopher Stokes, irish (judged from name)Christopher Stokes
  3. 13 Nov2021
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, its first report
    Man allowed back to Midlands county despite Garda objections

    Reports a bail variation hearing at Longford Circuit Court on 13 November 2021 in which William Stokes was allowed to move back to his father's house in Longford with strict conditions, despite Garda objections. His next court appearance is set for 11 January 2022.

    accused, William Stokes, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Stokes
  4. 9 Nov2021
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Man allowed back to Longford despite Garda objections

    Bail variation hearing; Stokes allowed to return to Longford with strict conditions (curfew, 200m movement limit, no-contact with injured party) despite Garda objections about him being a draw on resources and a target. Sign-on conditions dropped, replaced by 24/7 mobile phone contactability. Next appearance set for 11 January 2022.

    accused, William Stokes, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Stokes
  5. 30 Jun2021
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, first report
    ‘He held her up by her hair and abused her’: Longford man remanded in custody for aggravated burglary

    Bail hearing details: Stokes remanded in custody to 1 July 2021 for DPP directions at Mullingar District Court; Judge Kilrane refused bail citing risk of witness interference and the vulnerability of the female victim living alone with her children.

    accused, William Stokes, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Stokesvictim, femalevictim, Christopher Stokes, male, irish (judged from name)Christopher Stokes