The Court of Appeal has upheld Patrick Sweeney’s sentences for his part in an organised attack on security workers at a repossessed property in Falsk, Co Roscommon.
Mr Sweeney was convicted after a 19-week trial arising from the attack in the early hours of December 16th, 2018. Security staff were guarding the property after it had been repossessed on behalf of KBC Bank five days earlier under a High Court order.
The court recorded that a cattle truck brought a large group of men to the property at about 5am. A telehandler forced open the gates. Men carrying weapons including bats, sticks, blades, a meat cleaver and sledgehammers then entered.
Bodycam footage showed Mr Sweeney entering the kitchen carrying a pickaxe handle and wielding and revving a chainsaw.
Security company director Ian Gordon was severely assaulted and singled out for particular treatment. Other security workers were beaten, restrained and threatened. One was stabbed in the leg and doused with petrol. Mr Gordon’s dog was struck with a baseball bat and later euthanised. Three of his vehicles were destroyed by fire.
In July 2023, Mr Sweeney received concurrent sentences including 15 years for one false-imprisonment count, 14 years for three others, 13 years for aggravated burglary, 10 years for arson and violent disorder, and five years for assault causing harm and animal cruelty.
He argued on appeal that the sentences were excessive, that his personal circumstances and mitigation were undervalued, and that part of the sentence should have been suspended to encourage rehabilitation. He also argued that his individual role had not been sufficiently distinguished from those of other participants.
The Court of Appeal rejected those arguments. It found that the sentencing judge had carefully assessed the planned nature of the attack, the number of victims, weapons used, injuries caused and the intended terrorising effect.
The court also held that a suspended element was not required where there was no evidence of remorse, insight or another concrete basis for rehabilitation. It found no error of principle and dismissed the sentence appeal.