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. 12548Threats to kill or cause serious harm; assault causing harm · Co. Kilkenny · 4 Mar 2024

Man sentenced for threatening to kill in Castlecomer pub

James O'Loughlin, 52, a man from Castlecomer, struck the man leasing his pub twice and made threats the victim took very seriously at The Corner House bar in Castlecomer in March 2024. He pleaded guilty to making threats to kill or cause serious harm and assault causing harm at Kilkenny District Court in May 2025. In October 2025, he was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for eight months, and ordered to pay €3,000 in compensation. The assault charge was taken into consideration, and the positive probation report supported the suspended sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court16 May
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
James O'Loughlin struck the man leasing his pub twice and made threats the victim took very seriously.
Where
The incident took place at The Corner House bar, Barrack Street, Castlecomer, Kilkenny.
When
The assault took place just before midnight on March 3, 2024, and gardaí received a report on March 4, 2024.
Cause
Relations between the two men had soured over business and personal matters.
Other details
  • O'Loughlin entered the pub intoxicated and highly agitated.
  • The assault causing harm charge was taken into consideration.
  • O'Loughlin had no previous convictions and the probation report was found positive.
Investigation
Customers witnessed the incident and gave statements, and CCTV recorded the event with audio.
Charges
O'Loughlin pleaded guilty to making threats to kill or cause serious harm and assault causing harm.
In court
The matter was heard at Kilkenny District Court, where the judge requested a pre-sentencing Probation Report and adjourned the case.
Sentence
O'Loughlin was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for eight months on conditions including continued engagement with the Probation Service, and ordered to pay €1,500 to the injured party and €1,500 to the Court Poor Box.
26 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe pub owner was charged with assaulting the man who was leasing the business from him. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatThe accused struck the other man twice. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatThe accused made threats which the other man took very seriously. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatMr O’Loughlin entered the pub intoxicated and highly agitated. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatMr O’Loughlin struck the injured party twice and made threats that the injured party took very seriously. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place in the Corner House pub in Castlecomer. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at The Corner House bar on Barrack Street, Castlecomer. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenThe assault took place in the pub on March 3, 2024. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenGardaí received a report of an assault on March 4, 2024, that had taken place just before midnight. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • causeRelations between the two men soured due to business and personal matters. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • causeRelations between the two men soured over business and personal matters. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationGardaí received a report of the assault on March 4. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationCustomers at the pub witnessed events and gave statements. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationCCTV recorded the incident with audio. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeThe pub owner pleaded guilty to assaulting the other man. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeJames O’Loughlin pleaded guilty to two charges: making threats to kill or cause serious harm and assault causing harm. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeThe assault causing harm charge was taken into consideration. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtThe judge requested a pre-sentencing Probation Report. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned to a July court sitting. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • sentenceMr O’Loughlin was convicted of threatening to kill or cause serious harm and sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for eight months on conditions including continued engagement with the Probation Service. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • sentenceMr O’Loughlin was ordered to pay €1,500 to the injured party and €1,500 to the Court Poor Box. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe accused was intoxicated and highly agitated when he called to the pub. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe accused had no previous convictions. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherA victim impact statement was handed in to court. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherMr O’Loughlin had no previous convictions. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe judge found the probation report to be positive. (kilkennypeople.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Oct2025
    Sentencedkilkennypeople.ie, first report
    Threat to kill Kilkenny publican - Man appears in court

    Court report on the sentencing. Adds the guilty pleas, the pub location, the 8-month suspended sentence, the compensation orders, the positive probation report and the note that the assault charge was taken into consideration. No existing case matches this 2024 incident.

    convicted, James O'Loughlin, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)James O'Loughlinvictim
  2. 16 May2025
    In courtkilkennypeople.ie, first report
    Kilkenny pub owner pleads guilty to assault of lease holder after ‘soured business relationship’

    Court report on a guilty plea. The judge requested a pre-sentencing Probation Report and adjourned the matter to a July sitting. Incident date is taken from the plea details (March 3, 2024), while the report says gardaí received a report on March 4.

    accused, James O'Loughlin, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)James O'Loughlinvictim, male