Courts / Westmeath / Report

Polish man "out of his depth" when he helped murderers, court hears

Date
2016-06-13

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Athlone

Summary

A 28-year-old Polish national has been remanded on bail pending sentence after pleading guilty to false imprisonment and withholding information in connection with a fatal assault in County Roscommon in June 2014. Szymon Tarkowski of Tullamore admitted to the charges relating to the death of Patryk Krupa, who drowned in the Shannon near Athlone following a violent attack. At the Central Criminal Court, evidence was heard that Tarkowski drove two men to locate the victim and transported them to the scene, though he remained in the vehicle during the assault itself. He subsequently cleaned his car in an attempt to remove forensic evidence and later provided a voluntary statement to gardai that aided the investigation. Two other men, Leszek Sychulec of Ballymahon and Andrzej Gruchacz, were convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on the same date. The court heard Tarkowski had no previous convictions and was considered out of his depth, lacking premeditation in his involvement. He will be sentenced on 27 June.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Polish man "out of his depth" when he helped murderers, court hears. Charges or matters: the false imprisonment of Patryk Krupa (23) at Bogganfin in Athlone, County Roscommon and of withholding information between June 20th and 21st, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 20th Incident
June 20th, 2014 Incident
June 27th Adjournment
2016-06-13 Publication

Case subjects

Szymon Tarkowski

Defendant

Charges: the false imprisonment of Patryk Krupa (23) at Bogganfin in Athlone, County Roscommon and of withholding information between June 20th and 21st, 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: They were sentenced to life today by Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Hunt remanded Tarkowski on continuing bail until June 27th, when he will be sentenced.; Mr Justice Hunt remanded Tarkowski on continuing bail until June 27th, when he will be sentenced.