Thursday 29 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. 10719Assault causing harm; aggravated burglary · Co. Limerick · 24 Dec 2024

Stephen Power jailed for six years over Galbally home attack, Limerick

On 24 December 2024, in the early hours, Stephen Power, a 34-year-old man, broke into a woman's home in Galbally, Co Limerick, where he is reported to have beaten her in front of her young children and stabbed her boyfriend twice in the back. Gardaí arrested Power the morning after the attack, and he was charged with assault causing harm, criminal damage and aggravated burglary. He pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to one count of assault causing harm to the boyfriend, on a full facts basis. Judge Colin Daly sentenced him to six years nine months in prison with the final nine months suspended, in a sentencing reported with conflicting dates of 1 March 2026 and 11 March 2026.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Stephen Power, a 34-year-old man, is reported to have broken into a woman's home, beaten her in front of her young children and stabbed her boyfriend.
  • Power is reported to have stabbed the boyfriend twice in the back and then continued attacking the woman outside her house with others.
  • Power is reported to have slashed the tyres of the woman's car outside her home on the same night.
  • Power is reported to have damaged a doorbell camera at the woman's home in an attempt to destroy video evidence.
Where
The home was in Galbally, County Limerick.
When
The break-in happened in the early hours of Christmas Eve, 24 December 2024.
Weapon
Power was armed with a knife when he gained entry to the house.
Investigation
Gardaí recovered a knife and a broken blade at the scene and arrested Power the morning after the attack.
Charges
Power was charged with assault causing harm to the woman and her boyfriend, criminal damage and aggravated burglary.
In court
  • Power pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to one count of assault causing harm to the boyfriend, on a full facts basis.
  • Judge Colin Daly said the attack during Christmas in front of children in their home was especially egregious, and Power's counsel argued he was a serious drug addict.
Sentence
Power was sentenced to six years nine months in prison with the final nine months suspended; sources give the sentencing date as 1 March 2026 in one place and 11 March 2026 in another.
Other details
  • Power had prior convictions including arson, possession of knives, possession of drugs for sale or supply, burglary, theft and criminal damage.
  • The boyfriend was treated in hospital for two stab wounds, required surgery and made a full recovery.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatStephen Power, aged 34, admitted breaking into a woman's home, beating her in front of her young children and stabbing her boyfriend. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatPower stabbed the woman's boyfriend twice in his back. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatPower and others continued to attack the woman outside her house. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatPower slashed tyres on the woman's car outside her home on the same night. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatPower damaged a doorbell camera at the woman's house in an attempt to destroy video evidence. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe home was at Galbally, Co Limerick. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenPower broke into the woman's home in the early hours of Christmas Eve, 24 December 2024. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponPower was armed with a knife when he gained entry to the house. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí recovered a knife and a broken blade at the scene and arrested Power the morning after the attack. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargePower was charged with assault causing harm to the woman, assault causing harm to the woman's boyfriend, criminal damage and aggravated burglary. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtPower pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to the woman's boyfriend, on a full facts basis. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtPower was sentenced by Judge Colin Daly at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentencePower was sentenced to six years nine months in prison with the final nine months suspended. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherPower had prior convictions including for arson, possession of knives, possession of drugs for sale or supply, burglary, theft and criminal damage. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe boyfriend was treated in hospital for two stab wounds, required surgery and made a full recovery. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherPower's counsel argued that Power was a serious drug addict. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge said it was especially egregious that the attack took place during Christmas in front of children in their home. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Mar2026
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Man jailed for six years for beating woman in front of her children and stabbing her boyfriend

    Reports the sentence imposed by Judge Colin Daly at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, Power's guilty plea to one count of assault causing harm to the boyfriend, and the court's comments and mitigation.

    convicted, Stephen Power, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Powervictim, femalevictim, male