Jury begins deliberating in Strokestown farm attack case

A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of four men accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse near Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. Patrick J Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges, including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, and robbery. The charges relate to an incident on 16 December 2018 when approximately 30 armed men forcibly entered the property at Falsk. During her directions, Judge Martina Baxter instructed jurors on voice recognition evidence and reminded them that verdicts must be unanimous. The jury deliberated for over two hours before being sent home to resume consideration of the case.