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. 5436Aggravated burglary; violent disorder; criminal damage; false imprisonment; assault causing harm; arson; animal cruelty · Co. Roscommon · 16 Dec 2018

Three men appeal convictions in Strokestown repossession 'mob' attack

Martin O'Toole, PJ Sweeney and Paul Beirne have appealed their convictions for their part in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse at Falsk, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. Each was sentenced to 15 years in prison in June 2023, and the Court of Criminal Appeal reserved its judgement on the appeal.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court18 Jul
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe security men were beaten, forced to the ground, had their shoes removed and their hands tied with cable ties. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA Belgian Shepherd dog was beaten unconscious and later had to be put down. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOne security man had a gun put to his head and was ordered to crawl on the ground and eat dog faeces. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe attack took place at a repossessed rural property at Falsk, just outside Strokestown, Co Roscommon. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe attack occurred at about 5am on 16 December 2018. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe attackers were armed with a baseball bat, a meat cleaver, a hurley, a nail-studded stick and a chainsaw. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThey were found guilty of 15 charges including aggravated burglary, violent disorder and criminal damage to a door. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThey were found guilty of false imprisonment of and assault causing harm to Ian Gordon, Mark Rissen, John Graham and Gary McCourtney. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThey were convicted of three counts of arson in relation to three vans. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThey were convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by causing or permitting an animal to be struck on the head. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court reserved its judgement on the appeal. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe three appellants were each sentenced to 15 years in prison. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherSweeney is a builder from High Cairn, Ramelton, Co Donegal. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBeirne is a cattle farmer from Croghan, Boyle. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThere were 30 to 40 people involved in the incident. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Jul2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Strokestown eviction vigilantes appeal convictions for roles in ‘mob’ attack

    Reports the appeal hearing before Mr Justice Peter Charleton, where defence counsel challenged the admissibility of body-cam video footage, identification procedures, and sufficiency of evidence given 30–40 people were at the scene. Prosecution argued common design was evident from the footage. The court reserved its judgement.

    convicted, Martin O'Toole, 60, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin O'Tooleconvicted, PJ Sweeney, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)PJ Sweeneyconvicted, Paul Beirne, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Beirnevictim, Ian Gordon, male, irish (judged from name)Ian Gordonvictim, Mark Rissen, maleMark Rissenvictim, John Graham, male, irish (judged from name)John Grahamvictim, Gary McCourtney, male, irish (judged from name)Gary McCourtney