Courts / Roscommon / Report
Strokestown eviction vigilante fails in appeal against 15-year sentence
Summary
PJ Sweeney has lost his appeal against a 15-year prison sentence for his role in a violent attack on security workers at a repossessed farmhouse in Strokestown, Co Roscommon. In the Court of Appeal, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, speaking for the three-judge court, dismissed the appeal, finding no error in principle in the original sentence imposed by Judge Martina Baxter. Sweeney, of High Cairn, Ramelton, Co Donegal, was convicted in June 2023 of 15 charges, including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, criminal damage, false imprisonment, assault, arson, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC argued the sentence was excessive and disproportionate, citing Sweeney's good character and lack of prior convictions, and requested a suspended element. However, the Appeal Court rejected these arguments, noting there was no evidence of insight, remorse, or apology from Sweeney. The court emphasized the brutal nature of the attack, which aimed to inflict fear and terror, and upheld the maximum penalty for several offences. Sweeney's co-accused, Martin O'Toole and Paul Beirne, had previously dismissed their legal teams ahead of their own appeals. The Appeal Court confirmed that the trial judge was entitled to impose a custodial sentence without suspension given the circumstances.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Strokestown eviction vigilante fails in appeal against 15-year sentence. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- June 2023 Incident
- December 16, 2018 Incident
- 2025-04-10 Publication
Case subjects
Background Person
Appellant
Appellant
Outcome: Delivering judgement today in the Court of Appeal, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said that the three-judge court did not find any error in principle in the original sentence imposed on PJ Sweeney. Defence counsel for Sweeney, Michael Bowman SC, previously contended the sentence imposed on Sweeney was "excessive and disproportionate".
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
Topics
Burglary Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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