Courts / Roscommon / Report
Jury convicts three of carrying out attack on Strokestown farm
Summary
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has convicted three men of participating in a violent attack on a farm property near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. Following a 50-day trial, PJ Sweeney, aged 44, from Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole, aged 58, from Claremorris, County Mayo; and Paul Beirne, aged 56, from Boyle, County Roscommon were each found guilty of 15 of 17 charges. These included false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, three counts of arson, criminal damage and violent disorder. They were also convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. A fourth defendant, David Lawlor from County Meath, was acquitted of all 17 charges. The three convicted men have been remanded in custody and will return to court for sentencing on 30 June. Martin O'Toole pleaded not guilty. Paul Beirne pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury convicts three of carrying out attack on Strokestown farm. Charges or matters: false imprisonment of and assault causing harm to Ian Gordon, Mark Rissen, John Graham, and Gary McCourtney; aggravated burglary; three counts of arson in relation to three vans which were allegedly set alight; criminal damage to a door of a house; violent disorder; causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by causing or permitting an animal to be struck on the head. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 16, 2018 Incident
- June 30 Adjournment
- December 11, 2018 Incident
- October 2012 Incident
- December 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2009 and 2012 Other
- 2023-06-02 Publication
Why: He said it took place in a noisy and highly stressful situation where a witness was under attack and that the jury could not know if Mr Gordon had concocted the evidence because of animosity towards his client. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: false imprisonment of and assault causing harm to Ian Gordon, Mark Rissen, John Graham, and Gary McCourtney; aggravated burglary; three counts of arson in relation to three vans which were allegedly set alight; criminal damage to a door of a house; violent disorder; causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by causing or permitting an animal to be struck on the head (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Judge Baxter remanded Sweeney, Beirne and O'Toole into custody to appear again before the court for a sentence hearing on June 30.; remand
Defendant
Charges: false imprisonment of and assault causing harm to Ian Gordon, Mark Rissen, John Graham, and Gary McCourtney; aggravated burglary; three counts of arson in relation to three vans which were allegedly set alight; criminal damage to a door of a house; violent disorder; causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by causing or permitting an animal to be struck on the head (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Judge Baxter remanded Sweeney, Beirne and O'Toole into custody to appear again before the court for a sentence hearing on June 30.; remand
Defendant
Charges: false imprisonment of and assault causing harm to Ian Gordon, Mark Rissen, John Graham, and Gary McCourtney; aggravated burglary; three counts of arson in relation to three vans which were allegedly set alight; criminal damage to a door of a house; violent disorder; causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by causing or permitting an animal to be struck on the head (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Judge Baxter remanded Sweeney, Beirne and O'Toole into custody to appear again before the court for a sentence hearing on June 30.; remand
Places mentioned
Topics
Burglary Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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