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Security guard tells trial he was cut with meat cleaver and doused in petrol during Strokestown eviction attack

Summary

A security guard gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding an attack on a repossessed farm at Falsk, near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. The witness told the court he was struck repeatedly, cut on the legs with a meat cleaver, doused in petrol, and bound with cable ties during an assault by a large group of armed men. The incident occurred five days after the property's repossession. Four men—Patrick Sweeney of County Donegal, Martin O'Toole of County Mayo, Paul Beirne of County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath—have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, and robbery. The trial is ongoing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Under cross-examination, counsel challenged inconsistencies between the witness's account to gardaí and his testimony regarding events in the kitchen during the attack.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Security guard tells trial he was cut with meat cleaver and doused in petrol during Strokestown eviction attack. Charges or matters: 17 charges each at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• December 11, 2018 Incident
• December 16, 2018 Incident
• December 11 Incident
• 2023-03-21 Publication

Why: He said this man hit him in the chest but he was not injured because he was wearing a stab proof vest. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report