Wednesday 28 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. 0660Manslaughter · Co. Tipperary · 26 Dec 2023

Polish national jailed for six years for manslaughter of friend in Kilross, Co Tipperary

Maciej Nowak, a 32-year-old man, sustained 27 injuries to his head and neck at Ballycranna, Kilross, Co Tipperary on or about 26 or 27 December 2023, and was found lifeless on the kitchen floor at 5:02am. A pathologist determined he died from blunt force trauma not in keeping with self-inflicted injuries. Tomasz Rozpeda, a 29-year-old Polish man, was originally charged with murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter in March 2026 when arraigned before the Central Criminal Court. On 6 July 2026, Judge Eileen Creedon sentenced Rozpeda to six years' imprisonment, having set a headline sentence of nine years before reducing it, with the sentence backdated to 28 December 2023 when he went into custody.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced6 Jul
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Maciej Nowak sustained 27 injuries to his head and neck and 70 areas of bruising on his body, and his brain twisted within his skull.
  • Both men had consumed substances to excess that evening, and a toxicology report showed a high level of amphetamine in Nowak's system.
Cause
A pathologist found Nowak died from blunt force trauma to the head, with the pattern of injury consistent with blunt force injuries suggestive of an assault and not in keeping with self-inflicted injuries.
Where
The offence occurred at Ballycranna, Kilross, Co Tipperary.
When
The offence occurred on or about 26 or 27 December 2023, and Nowak was found lifeless on the kitchen floor at 5:02am.
Investigation
CCTV showed Rozpeda arriving at the area where Nowak lived at 4pm the previous day, and Rozpeda told an emergency operator that his friend had gone crazy hitting things and hitting himself while making no admissions in his garda interviews.
Charges
Tomasz Rozpeda, a 29-year-old Polish man, was originally charged with murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter in March 2026 when arraigned before the Central Criminal Court.
In court
Sentencing took place at the Central Criminal Court on 6 July 2026 before Judge Eileen Creedon.
Sentence
Rozpeda was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, the judge having set a headline sentence of nine years before reducing it, with the sentence backdated to 28 December 2023 when he went into custody.
Other details
  • Rozpeda is of no fixed abode, had no relevant previous convictions in this jurisdiction, had three previous convictions from Poland including drink driving and possession of narcotic drugs, and had suffered a stroke a number of years ago.
  • Nowak was due to be married on 27 June 2024, and his fiancée Joanna Biszof gave a victim impact statement at sentencing.
39 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatNowak sustained 27 injuries to his head and neck (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA pathologist found Nowak died from blunt force trauma not in keeping with self-inflicted injuries (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe pattern of head injury was consistent with blunt force injuries suggestive of an assault (irishtimes.com)
  • whatNowak was due to be married on 27 June 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBiszof confirmed her life as she knew it has collapsed (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe defendant made no admissions in his garda interviews (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim sustained 27 injuries to his head and neck (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim's brain twisted within his skull (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA pathologist's report recorded 70 areas of bruising on the victim's body (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBoth men had consumed substances to excess that evening (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA toxicology report showed a high level of amphetamine in the victim's system (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBlood-stained broken bottles were found scattered on the kitchen floor (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe pathologist found the blunt force trauma was not in keeping with self-inflicted injuries (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe offence occurred at Ballycranna, Kilross, Co Tipperary (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident occurred at Ballycranna, Kilross, Co Tipperary (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe offence occurred on or about 26 or 27 December 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe victim was found lifeless on the kitchen floor at 5:02am (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationCCTV showed Rozpeda arriving at the area where the victim lived at 4pm the previous day (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeRozpeda was originally charged with the murder of Nowak (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeRozpeda pleaded guilty to manslaughter in March when arraigned before the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeRozpeda was originally charged with murder (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeRozpeda pleaded guilty to manslaughter (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe sentencing took place at the Central Criminal Court on Monday (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe sentencing took place at the Central Criminal Court (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceRozpeda was jailed for six years for manslaughter (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set the headline sentence at nine years (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceRozpeda was sentenced to six years in prison (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 28 December 2023 when he went into custody (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to when he went into custody on December 28, 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set the headline sentence at nine years before reducing it to six (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherRozpeda is of no fixed abode (irishtimes.com)
  • otherSeveral witnesses were outside the jurisdiction (irishtimes.com)
  • otherRozpeda had no relevant previous or subsequent convictions in this jurisdiction (irishtimes.com)
  • otherRozpeda has three previous convictions from Poland including driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and possession of narcotic drugs (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defendant had suffered a stroke a number of years ago (irishtimes.com)
  • otherRozpeda had three previous convictions from Poland including drink driving and possession of narcotic drugs (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe victim was due to be married on June 27, 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherRozpeda had suffered a stroke a number of years ago (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Jul2026
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Polish national who killed friend on St Stephen's Day jailed for six years

    Reports the sentencing of Tomasz Rozpeda to six years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Maciej Nowak, including details of the injuries, the 999 call, CCTV evidence, toxicology findings and mitigation factors.

    victim, Maciej Nowak, 32, male, non-irish (judged from name)Maciej Nowakconvicted, Tomasz Rozpeda, 29, male, Polish, named, non-irishTomasz Rozpeda
  2. 6 Jul2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man who killed friend on St Stephen’s Day three years ago jailed

    Provides full sentencing details including Judge Eileen Creedon's reasoning, the headline sentence of nine years reduced to six, mitigation factors (early guilty plea, apology, no relevant prior convictions, stroke, serving sentence away from family), the victim impact statement from Nowak's fiancée Joanna Biszof, and the backdating of the sentence to 28 December 2023.

    victim, Maciej Nowak, 32, male, non-irish (judged from name)Maciej Nowaksuspect, Tomasz Rozpeda, 29, male, Polish, named, non-irishTomasz Rozpeda