Ireland Case No. 4025Aggravated burglary · Co. Westmeath
Quintan Ncube jailed for 5½ years over violent machete raid on Athlone student house
Quintan Ncube, 24, a Zimbabwe-born man who wore a devil mask and wielded a machete during a violent gang raid on a student house in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. Three co-defendants received suspended sentences after pleading guilty to burglary and interfering with an investigation.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced23 Jan
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA burglar wielding a machete who wore a devil mask led a violent gang raid on an Athlone student house (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe property was mistakenly targeted and ransacked for drugs and cash (irishtimes.com)
- whatNcube is Zimbabwe-born and of no fixed address (irishtimes.com)
- whatNcube told his probation officer he would revert to offending if released (irishtimes.com)
- whatMichal Pawtowska, 23, originally from Poland, lived at Auburn Heights, Athlone (irishtimes.com)
- whatKatarzyna Pawtowska, 27, a trained beautician and mother of two, was the getaway driver (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe group had been drinking and taking drugs before the incident (irishtimes.com)
- whatThree students heard banging at the back door and kitchen area at 2am (irishtimes.com)
- whatNeighbours filmed the three burglars leaving on a phone but were threatened (irishtimes.com)
- whatNcube made denials when interviewed by gardaí but later pleaded guilty in court (irishtimes.com)
- whatNcube had worked as a labourer and warehouse worker but was jobless at the time of the incident (irishtimes.com)
- whatNcube had 22 prior convictions mainly for public order offences, burglary, robbery, criminal damage and violent disorder (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí obtained footage from 35 locations in the area (irishtimes.com)
- courtNcube and Adeniyi pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary on 19 April 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- courtMichal Pawtowska pleaded guilty to a less serious burglary charge (irishtimes.com)
- courtKatarzyna Pawtowska was found to be the least culpable (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceNcube was sentenced to six years with the final six months suspended, with three years post-release good behaviour, probation supervision, counselling, and no illegal drugs or alcohol (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceAdeniyi was sentenced to three years and six months with 18 months suspended and two years post-release supervision (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMichal Pawtowska received a three-year sentence with 18 months suspended (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceKatarzyna Pawtowska received a fully suspended two-year sentence with conditions for five years (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Jan2026Devil mask-wearing burglar with machete jailed for role in violent raid on Athlone student house
Sentencing hearing at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court; Ncube received 6 years with 6 months suspended, Adeniyi 3½ years with 18 months suspended, Michal Pawtowska 3 years with 18 months suspended, and Katarzyna Pawtowska a fully suspended 2-year sentence.
convicted, Quintan Ncube, 24, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Quintan Ncubeconvicted, Oluwadamilare Adeniyi, 20, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Oluwadamilare Adeniyiconvicted, Michal Pawtowska, 23, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Michal Pawtowskaconvicted, Katarzyna Pawtowska, 27, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Katarzyna Pawtowska