Man in court in Tullamore receives prison sentence following attack on dead brother's partner

A man who attacked his dead brother's partner, calling her a “whore” and a “prostitute” was sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Tullamore Circuit Court.

William Stokes (31) of 66 Gleann Riada, Longford pleaded guilty when the matter was first heard in Longford Circuit Court.

The three charges Mr Stokes was accused of were: assault, aggravated burglary and assault causing harm.

Outlining details of the investigation Detective Garda Brendan Lynn told the court that on June 10, 2021 at 11pm he received a call from Michaela Liddy who asked the officer for advice on how to get a barring order.

Ms Liddy was reluctant to provide information on the matter and only said it related to an altercation with a man. The Garda recommended the complainant contact a solicitor about the issue.

On June 16 Ms Liddy again contacted the officer, this time saying she wished to make a complaint having discussed the matter with her family.

Ms Liddy had been in a relationship with the defendant's brother, Patrick, for seven years. The couple had four children together before Mr Stokes passed away.

The court heard that prior to the incident William regularly called to Ms Liddy's home at Mostrim Oaks, Edgeworthstown to visit the children. On April 30, 2021 Willie Stokes dropped by Ms Liddy home at around midnight. The defendant did not call in advance, but Ms Liddy opened the door and let him in.

Mr Stokes spoke to her in the kitchen as she folded clothes. After a while he grabbed Ms Liddy, pushed her to a wall and said: “Come on.”

The mother of four pushed the defendant away and said: “Ah, go away Willie,” then returned to folding clothes.

Mr Stokes grabbed her by the upper arm and pulled her close. She protested saying: “You're Paddy's brother, you're sick.”

In reply Mr Stokes said: “We're not blood.”

The victim said she had a tee shirt on and William Stokes started poking her into the chest. He then tried to kiss her and grabbed her by the upper arm. He said: “I know you want to kiss me.”

Ms Liddy objected saying: “No, I swear on my kids I don't,” and moved to get away from Mr Stokes. As she moved away she tripped and fell over a child's bike. The defendant stood over her and said: “Take a look at the size of you – how easily you'd be raped if you were grabbed,” he then left the house.

Mr Stokes did not return to the Mostrim Oaks home of Ms Liddy until June 10. On that day she was washing dishes while her kids were playing in the back garden.

Ms Liddy heard a knock on the door and when she went to open it William Stokes pushed his way into the house. He grabbed Ms Liddy by the neck and flung her against the stairs.

Mr Stokes screamed at her calling her “a prostitute” and “a whore”. He accused her of being in a relationship with one of his cousins, Christopher Stokes. When Ms Liddy denied the allegations, telling Mr Stokes that his cousin had only helped put a trampoline in for her children, he grabbed her by the hair.

The injured party felt extremely threatened and it was only when her youngest child came into the hall, shouting: “Leave mammy alone,” and pushed Mr Stokes away that he let go.

Mr Stokes walked out the door and got into the jeep. He shouted out the window: “Don't go to the Guards, that's not a road you want to go down.”

When a neighbour intervened Mr Stokes shouted: “What's it got to do with you, you dirty smelly whore.”

The next incident before the court related to the use of pepper spray on July 17, 2021. Christopher Stokes was driving towards Longford on the Edgeworthstown Road when he saw a jeep behind him flashing their lights.

He knew it was his cousin's vehicle and pulled in at Fallon's Hardware Store on the outskirts of Longford town. He got out of his car and went towards William Stokes's jeep. He said: “Is everything alright?” as his cousin got out of his vehicle.

CCTV footage shown to the court showed that William Stokes immediately sprayed his cousin with pepper spray then tried to punch and kick him. When the defendant accused his cousin of having sex with Ms Liddy, Christopher Stokes told him he was “as good as a married man”.

After delivering a number of blows to his cousin, William Stokes got back into his jeep and drove off. The court heard that a Forensic Science Ireland analysis of clothing belonging to Christopher Stokes showed that there was residue of pepper spray on them.

William Stokes was interviewed three times by Gardaí on June 21, 2021, but exercised his right to silence for most of the questioning. In his third interview he said: “This is a load of crap, a load of shit and false allegations against me by that sick bitch. I don't know what she is at.”

Counsel for the defendant, Dara Foynes SC, said: “Four years later and William Stokes is sorry and very remorseful. He was involved in an affair that had nothing to do with him,” adding that it was accepted that there was no relationship between Michaela Liddy and Christopher Stokes beyond friendship.

Ms Foynes referenced her client's difficult childhood, a diagnosis of mental trauma, and his need for “significant grief counselling”. Mr Stokes had €3,300 in court as a token of his remorse to the victims.

She described a “relatively young man” who has “reached a crossroads in his life”. Ms Foynes spoke of the “red mist that came down” before the incidents. Counsel said the defendant has a new partner and the couple are expecting a child.

Ms Foynes pointed out that her client does voluntary work for the Hungry Horse charity and makes a good living as a powerhouse, adding that if given time Mr Stokes could bring more money to court.

Prosecuting barrister, Shane Geraghty BL, told Judge Connolly that both parties had declined to give victim impact statements. When canvassed if the victims would accept the compensation Garda Lynn said that Ms Liddy “doesn't want to be within an ass's roar of this man”.

Mr Stokes had eleven previous convictions. Five for road traffic, two possession of drugs, one possession of a weapon, one assault and one public order. A probation assessment identified the defendant as a “high risk of reoffending”.

Having considered the facts of the case Judge Connolly imposed a three and a half year custodial sentence.

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