Courts / Roscommon / Report

Senior garda denies failures over Strokestown house repossession

Summary

A garda superintendent has firmly rejected suggestions that policing failures contributed to a violent incident at a repossessed house near Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Superintendent Seamus Boyle disputed a defence assertion that gardaí failed to intervene timeously and properly before armed men attacked security personnel. Four men—Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole of Claremorris, County Mayo; Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon; and David Lawlor of Navan, County Meath—have each pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges. These include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, and animal cruelty, arising from the early-morning incident on 16 December 2018. The superintendent confirmed he prepared a policing plan and visited the property but maintained An Garda Síochána's role was limited to preventing breaches of the peace. The trial before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury continues. Patrick Sweeney was convicted. Martin O'Toole was convicted. Paul Beirne was convicted. David Lawlor was convicted.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Senior garda denies failures over Strokestown house repossession. Charges or matters: 17 charges each at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; the assault of a security man executing the court order on December 11, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

• December 2018 Incident
• December 16, 2018 Incident
• December 11, 2018 Incident
• December 11 Incident
• December 15, 2018 Other
• 2023-04-27 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report