Ireland Crime

Named as

Victim

Offences

Aggravated burglary; violent disorder; criminal damage; false imprisonment; assault causing harm; arson; animal cruelty

Where

Co. Roscommon

Reporting

1 report, 22 Feb 2023 to 22 Feb 2023

Outlets

rte.ie

• Appeal against sentence for aggravated burglary at Roscommon farmhouse dismissed Aggravated burglary; violent disorder; criminal damage; false imprisonment; assault causing harm; arson; animal cruelty · Co. Roscommon

  On 16 December 2018, a group of approximately 30 armed men attacked four security guards—Ian Gordon, Mark Rissen, John Graham and Gary McCourtney—who were guarding a repossessed farmhouse at Falsk, just outside Strokestown, Co Roscommon. The security guards were beaten, forced to the ground and had their hands tied with cable ties, a Shepherd dog was beaten unconscious and later put down, and three vans and a car were set alight. Four men, Patrick Sweeney (59), Martin O'Toole (60), Paul Beirne (58) and David Lawlor (43), were charged with 17 offences each including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, false imprisonment, assault causing harm, arson and animal cruelty. After a three-month trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Sweeney, O'Toole and Beirne were convicted of 15 charges in June 2023 while Lawlor was acquitted, and each of the three was sentenced to 15 years in prison in July 2023. The Court of Appeal dismissed the three men's appeals against their convictions in July 2024 and dismissed Sweeney's appeal against his sentence in April 2025.

  Sentenced, 28 Jul 2023Victim · 1 report

Each entry shows how that report described them.

1. 22 Feb2023
   In courtrte.ie, in Appeal against sentence for aggravated burglary at Roscommon farmhouse dismissed

   Four on trial over attack on security guards at house

   victim, Anthony McCann, maleAnthony McCann♂

Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.