Ireland Case No. 14405Assault · Co. Longford · 30 Apr 2021
Man sentenced to three and a half years for assaults on dead brother's partner
William Stokes (31), a man from Longford, is alleged to have called at the Edgeworthstown home of Michaela Liddy, his dead brother's partner, at around midnight on April 30, 2021, and to have assaulted her in later incidents in June 2021. Gardaí interviewed him three times on June 21, 2021, and he was charged with assault, aggravated burglary and assault causing harm. He also faced allegations over a pepper spray incident involving his cousin on July 17, 2021 at Fallon's Hardware Store on the outskirts of Longford town. He pleaded guilty when the matter was first heard in Longford Circuit Court, and Judge Connolly sentenced him to three and a half years in prison at Tullamore Circuit Court, a sentence reported on February 27, 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced27 Feb
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- William Stokes was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for assaulting Michaela Liddy, his dead brother's partner.
- Stokes allegedly grabbed Ms Liddy by the neck, flung her against the stairs and grabbed her by the hair.
- Stokes allegedly grabbed Ms Liddy, pushed her to a wall and said "Come on" and called her a prostitute and a whore.
- Stokes allegedly sprayed his cousin with pepper spray and then tried to punch and kick him.
- Where
- Ms Liddy's home is at Mostrim Oaks, Edgeworthstown.
- The pepper spray incident took place at Fallon's Hardware Store on the outskirts of Longford town.
- When
- Stokes called at Ms Liddy's home at around midnight on April 30, 2021 without calling in advance.
- The incidents involving Ms Liddy took place in April and June 2021, and the pepper spray incident took place on July 17, 2021.
- Weapon
- The weapon in the July 17, 2021 incident was pepper spray.
- Investigation
- Ms Liddy called gardaí on June 10, 2021 at 11pm for advice, according to Detective Garda Brendan Lynn.
- Gardaí interviewed Stokes three times on June 21, 2021, and he 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, and neither party gave victim impact statements.
- 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 a high risk of reoffending.
28 statements extracted from the articles
- 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 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 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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- 27 Feb2025Man 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 - 27 Feb2025'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