Ireland Two men jailed for aggravated burglary and assault at Dundalk home
On September 22nd 2024, two men entered a woman's home on Barrack Street, Dundalk, County Louth, through an open window and attacked her over a number of hours, slashing her face with a Stanley knife and setting aerosol spray alight. Leigh Kearney, 30, of O'Hanlon Park, Dundalk, and Michael Murden, 32, who also lived at that address, both pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary. Both men were sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court, and reports published on May 12th 2026 say the sentences total 12 and a half years for the two men, with the final 18 months suspended. The lede reports each man was jailed for 11 years, while the sentence details differ.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced12 May
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Two men pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at a woman's home in Dundalk and were sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court.
- The victim was burned when spray from an aerosol was set alight.
- Where
- The men entered the woman's home through an open window on Barrack Street, Dundalk.
- When
- The aggravated burglary took place on September 22nd 2024, and the attack went on over a number of hours.
- Cause
- The court heard the pair took advantage of an open window while both were intoxicated.
- Weapon
- The victim was slashed three times in the face with a Stanley knife blade.
- Other details
- The judge accepted that the aggravated burglary was not pre-planned.
- The judge said the attack had been life changing for the victim.
- Michael Murden had 86 previous convictions, and Leigh Kearney had nine.
- Charges
- Two further charges against Leigh Kearney, of false imprisonment and assault causing harm, were taken into consideration at sentencing.
- Sentence
- Kearney received 18 months for violent disorder and a consecutive 11 years for the aggravated burglary, with the final 18 months suspended, and must be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months after release.
- Murden received three and a half years for a technology shop burglary and a consecutive nine years for the Barrack Street aggravated burglary, with the final 18 months suspended, and must be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release.
- The lede of the May 12th 2026 report says each man was jailed for 11 years, while the sentence details give Kearney 11 years and Murden nine years, consecutive to other terms.
- The sentences for the two men total 12 and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended.
15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe two men were each jailed for 11 years at Dundalk Circuit Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatThe victim was burned when the spray from an aerosol was set alight. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe men entered the woman's home through an open window. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe two men pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary on Barrack Street, Dundalk, on September 22nd 2024. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- causeThe court heard the pair had taken advantage of an open window while both were intoxicated. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- weaponThe victim was slashed three times in the face with a Stanley knife blade. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeTwo further charges against Leigh Kearney, of false imprisonment and assault causing harm, were taken into consideration at sentencing. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceKearney received an 18-month sentence for violent disorder and a consecutive 11-year sentence for the aggravated burglary, with the final 18 months suspended. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceKearney must be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months after release. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceMurden received a three and a half year sentence for a technology shop burglary and a consecutive nine-year sentence for the Barrack Street aggravated burglary, with the final 18 months suspended. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceMurden must be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months after release. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceThe sentences for the two defendants total 12 and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe judge accepted that the aggravated burglary was not pre-planned. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe judge said the attack had been life changing for the victim. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherMichael Murden had 86 previous convictions, and Leigh Kearney had nine. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 12 May2026Men jailed for viciously assaulting a woman in her Louth home
Sentencing report covering both defendants. Lede says each was jailed for 11 years, but the body gives Kearney 11 years consecutive to an 18-month violent disorder term and Murden nine years consecutive to three and a half years for a separate technology shop burglary, with totals of 12 and a half years for both, the final 18 months suspended. Also records the Londis violent disorder sentencing and the technology shop burglary as related matters.
convicted, Leigh Kearney, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Leigh Kearneyconvicted, Michael Murden, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murdenvictim, female