Courts / Roscommon / Report

Strokestown eviction accused told gardai that courts enforced 'pirate law, the law of the sea'

Date
2023-04-18

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Roscommon

Summary

Martin O'Toole, aged 58, of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris, County Mayo, stands trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder and robbery relating to an incident at Falsk, County Roscommon on December 16, 2018. The trial heard that on that date, approximately 30 armed men, some masked, attacked security personnel at a repossessed farm near Strokestown. During garda interviews, Mr O'Toole initially denied attending the property, later conceding he was present after being shown body-camera footage. He stated he attended to observe and believed the gathering would be peaceful, claiming events escalated unexpectedly. He expressed views that court proceedings constituted unlawful authority. Three co-accused, Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal, Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon and David Lawlor of Navan, County Meath, face identical charges. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. The trial continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Strokestown eviction accused told gardai that courts enforced 'pirate law, the law of the sea'. Charges or matters: false imprisonment of and assault causing harm to four security personnel at Falsk, Co Roscommon on December 16, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

December 16, 2018 Incident
January 10, 2019 Incident
2023-04-18 Publication

Case subjects

Martin O'Toole

Accused

Charges: false imprisonment of and assault causing harm to four security personnel at Falsk, Co Roscommon on December 16, 2018 (Alleged Or Contested)