Patrick Sweeney loses appeal against 15-year sentence for Strokestown attack

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Court of Appeal dismissed Patrick Sweeney’s appeal against the severity of his sentence for his part in the attack at a repossessed property in Falsk, Co Roscommon. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy delivered the judgment on 10 April 2025. The court found no error in principle in the sentencing judge’s approach.

Sweeney was convicted on 2 June 2023 after a 19-week trial with co-accused. On 28 July 2023, he received concurrent prison sentences: five years for four counts of assault causing harm; 15 years for one count and 14 years for three counts of false imprisonment; 13 years for aggravated burglary; 10 years for three counts of arson and 10 years for violent disorder; eight years for criminal damage; and five years for animal cruelty. His sentence was wholly custodial.

His appeal argued, among other grounds, that the sentence was excessive, that insufficient weight had been given to his mitigation and personal circumstances, and that the judge had failed to consider a suspended portion or his individual culpability. The court held that the sentences were within the margin of appreciation afforded to the trial judge.

The court said that direct responsibility for compelling Ian Gordon to eat dog faeces might not be laid at Sweeney’s door. It held that this did not make the notional sentence unjust or absolve him of moral culpability for a joint enterprise to terrorise and attack the person in charge of the security operation.

The attack happened on 16 December 2018, after the property had been repossessed. Sweeney’s earlier appeal against conviction was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 31 July 2024.