Thursday 5 November 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. 22237Assault (serious); false imprisonment; production of an article · Co. Kildare · 14 Mar 2022

Three men charged with assault and false imprisonment in Robertstown

A man from Kildare town was allegedly beaten, stabbed, and tied to bed posts at 13 Grove Heights, Robertstown, for about four hours on 14 March 2022. Stephen Cross, 28, Thomas Cross, 39, and John Coyne, 30, were charged with assault, false imprisonment, and production of an article. Bail was refused at Naas District Court in March 2022, and the alleged victim later withdrew his complaint in October 2022, but the judge refused to strike out the case. In January 2023, bail was again refused and the defendant was remanded in custody. The case was adjourned to 1 March 2023 after the defence raised an abuse of process argument over the delayed book of evidence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court17 Mar
    4 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man from Kildare town was allegedly beaten, stabbed, and tied to bed posts at 13 Grove Heights, Robertstown, for approximately four hours.
Where
The incident took place at 13 Grove Heights, Robertstown, County Kildare.
When
The incident occurred on 14 March 2022, from approximately 1:30pm to 5:45pm.
Cause
The incident allegedly arose over a woman the injured party is dating who was previously dated by John Coyne.
Weapon
A knife, a broken brush handle, a rum bottle, and a phone charger and cable were allegedly used in the assault.
Charges
Stephen Cross, 28, Thomas Cross, 39, and John Coyne, 30, were charged with assault, false imprisonment, and production of an article.
In court
  • Bail was refused at Naas District Court in March 2022 and again in January 2023, and the defendant was remanded in custody.
  • In October 2022, the alleged victim withdrew his complaint, but Judge Desmond Zaidan refused to strike out the case.
  • In February 2023, the defence raised an abuse of process argument and the case was adjourned to 1 March 2023.
Investigation
Stephen Cross made no reply when charged.
Other details
  • The incident allegedly ended when John Coyne senior came to the house and took the injured man to Kildare town.
  • The parties are known to each other.
54 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe injured party was beaten, stabbed, and tied to bed posts at 13 Grove Heights, Robertstown. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatA phone charger and cable were also used in the assault. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe injured party was knocked unconscious and tied to bed posts. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe injured man was kicked and punched for a number of hours. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe incident ended when John Coyne senior came to the house and took the injured man to Kildare town. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe injured man is in pain all over his body and had bruises and stitches. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe injured party received a phone call from Stephen Cross inviting him to a house in Robertstown. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe injured party received a phone call inviting him to a house in Robertstown. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe injured party, a man from Kildare town, was beaten by the defendants. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatHe was kicked and punched for a number of hours. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe incident came to a halt when another man came to the house and took the injured man to Kildare town. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe injured party had been stabbed in the shoulder. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatJohn Coyne, 30, lives at 23 Grove Heights, Robertstown. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe injured party is a man from Kildare town. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe injured party was beaten by the defendants and stabbed. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatA brush handle was broken during the incident. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatA rum bottle was used in the incident. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe defendant was not at his address during curfew hours on 7 January at 7.30pm. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe defendant said he could not comply with some bail conditions because of a hospital appointment. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe defendant said he has had seizures and had problems with his heart. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatJohn Coyne, 30, of 23 Grove Heights, Robertstown, is one of three defendants charged with alleged assault at 13 Grove Heights, Robertstown, on 14 March 2022. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatAdditional allegations of false imprisonment and production of an article were brought on the same date at the same address. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe man arrived in Robertstown at 1:30pm and was returned to Kildare town at 5:45pm. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe most recent allegations against the defendant were made only two weeks previously. (kildarenow.com)
  • causeThe incident arose over a woman the injured party is dating who was previously dated by John Coyne. (kildarenow.com)
  • causeThe incident occurred over a woman the injured party is dating who was previously dated by John Coyne. (kildarenow.com)
  • weaponHe was stabbed, a brush handle was broken, and a rum bottle was used in the incident. (kildarenow.com)
  • weaponA phone charger and cable were also used. (kildarenow.com)
  • weaponThe injured party was stabbed, a brush handle was broken, and a rum bottle was used in the incident. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationStephen Cross made no reply when charged. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationSgt Dave Hanrahan told the court the book of evidence was still not available. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeHe is one of three men being prosecuted for assault at 13 Grove Heights on 14 March 2022. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeHe is one of three defendants charged with alleged assault at 13 Grove Heights, Robertstown, on 14 March 2022. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeHe faced additional allegations of false imprisonment and production of an article on 14 March 2022 at 13 Grove Heights. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtJudge Desmond Zaidan refused bail to the defendants and adjourned the matter to March 23. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtJohn Coyne, 30, of 23 Grove Heights, Robertstown, appeared before Naas District Court. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtOn 19 October, defending solicitor Tim Kennelly said the alleged victim has withdrawn his complaint. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtJudge Desmond Zaidan refused the application to strike out and adjourned the case to 25 January 2023. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtA bail application for John Coyne was refused at Naas District Court. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtDetective Garda Wayne Kelly objected to the granting of bail. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtDefending solicitor Tim Kennelly pointed out the alleged injured party was not present in court. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtJudge Zaidan said he had previously refused bail which was then granted in the High Court. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe defendant was remanded in custody. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe defendant appeared before Naas District Court on videolink. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtJudge Desmond Zaidan said the case should be given the utmost priority and adjourned it to 1 March 2023. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtIf the book of evidence is ready on 1 March, the defendant must be produced in court. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherJohn Coyne was present on each of 22 occasions when gardaí checked his curfew compliance. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherA brush is not listed as an offensive weapon. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThomas Cross said someone had bitten off part of his ear in an unrelated incident. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe alleged victim does not want to proceed with the prosecution. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe parties are known to each other. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe defendant is on onerous bail conditions causing inconvenience. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe most recent charges are further allegations relating to the same incident, effectively restarting the clock. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe defendant had been refused bail in both the district court and the high court, and a previously secured high court bail had been revoked. (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Feb2023
    In courtkildarenow.com, follow-up
    KILDARE COURT: Solicitor accuses state of abuse of process

    Reports a court hearing in which the defence raised an abuse of process argument due to the book of evidence still being unavailable and new charges relating to the same incident being brought only two weeks prior. The case was adjourned to 1 March 2023.

    accused, John Coyne, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Coynevictim, male
  2. 27 Jan2023
    In courtkildarenow.com, follow-up
    No bail for man accused of assaulting another who was knocked unconscious, tied to a bed and stabbed

    Bail application refused; defendant remanded in custody; further details of the alleged assault provided (victim knocked unconscious, tied to bed posts, stabbed; brush handle broken; rum bottle and phone charger used); incident allegedly over a woman the victim is dating who was previously dated by Coyne; defendant's demeanour in court noted; medical examination ordered.

    victim, malesuspect, John Coyne, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Coyne
  3. 27 Oct2022
    In courtkildarenow.com, follow-up
    Victim of alleged Kildare tied-to-bed assault does not want to proceed with case

    Reports that the alleged victim has withdrawn his complaint and does not want to proceed; the defence applied to have the case struck out citing onerous bail conditions; Judge Zaidan refused and adjourned to 25 January 2023.

    victim, maleaccused, John Coyne, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Coyne
  4. 17 Mar2022
    In courtkildarenow.com, first report
    ORDEAL: Kildare man beaten unconscious, stabbed and tied to bed in four hour incident - claim

    Bail hearing details: Garda Emma Devanny and Garda Zoe McInerney gave evidence; solicitor Tim Kennelly applied for bail; Judge Desmond Zaidan refused bail to all three defendants and adjourned to 23 March 2022. Additional details on weapons used (brush handle, rum bottle, phone charger and cable), the role of John Coyne senior in ending the incident, and John Coyne's curfew compliance (22 checks).

    victim, maleaccused, Stephen Cross, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Crossaccused, Thomas Cross, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Crossaccused, John Coyne, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Coyne