The Court of Appeal has increased the suspended portion of Stephen McCarthy's sentence for violent disorder arising from an incident at a private house in Limerick city, after finding that his rehabilitation had not been adequately addressed by the original sentencing judge.
McCarthy had been sentenced on February 4, 2025 to three-and-a-half years in prison, with the final six months suspended for three-and-a-half years. On June 10, 2026, the Court of Appeal quashed that sentence and re-sentenced him to the same overall term, but suspended the final 18 months on the same terms.
The offence arose in the early hours of August 23, 2021. McCarthy and three co-accused had been celebrating Limerick's All-Ireland hurling victory before taking a taxi to the College Court area. They approached a residence where a birthday party was taking place and attempted to gain entry by kicking the locked front door and climbing through a window before eventually entering through a rear door.
The court recorded that McCarthy struck one occupant in the face. Violence continued after the group was put out of the house. Solomon Adebisi was punched in the face, while Eugene Sweeney was assaulted with a glass bottle and required sutures to a head wound. Dale Hayes received several punches but could not identify who struck him.
McCarthy pleaded guilty to violent disorder on a full facts basis. A burglary charge was not proceeded with.
The appeal court rejected his argument that the seven-year headline sentence was excessive, citing the invasion of a private home, the violence and a threat made by McCarthy. It also upheld the 50 per cent reduction for mitigation.
However, the court found an error in the treatment of rehabilitation. McCarthy was 18 when the offence occurred, had no previous convictions, had worked part-time, completed courses and was reported to be doing well in custody. The court therefore suspended an additional 12 months of the sentence.