Man stabbed in Offaly after rushing violently into house on Christmas Eve

A MAN who rushed into a house in Tullamore suffered a stab would which could have killed him, the local Circuit Court heard.

Michael Sweeney (23), Arden View, Tullamore, is one of two men awaiting sentence for offences committed in Arden View on Christmas Eve 2022.

Mr Sweeney has been convicted of aggravated burglary and assault while Bernie Ward (25), also with an address in Arden View, has been convicted of assault.

The offences were committed at the residence of Dean Lynch in Arden View and a sentencing hearing was told CCTV captured three males approaching the house.

The first two of them had their hoods up and Bernie Ward could be seen ringing the doorbell. CCTV footage also captured two individuals climbing over a ramp railing at the front of the house and about 20 seconds later Mr Sweeney could be seen hobbling away with an injury.

Detective Garda Shane Hunter told the court that on the night of December 24, 2022 Tullamore Garda Station was notified about a male with a stab wound in Arden View.

Detective Garda Hunter said when he arrived at the scene Mr Sweeney had a significant wound to the leg and an ambulance was on its way.

Detective Garda Hunter said he went to the Lynch household and where he saw blood in the hallway and on the hands and face of Dean Lynch.

Mr Lynch told the garda he “stuck” a man “10 minutes ago” and had received a number of blows to the head himself when he opened the door.

He was knocked to the ground but then reached for a knife to defend himself. Mr Lynch required staples afterwards.

Mr Sweeney was found about 150 metres away from the Lynch residence and he had suffered significant injuries and blood loss.

Mr Ward was arrested at Esker Street, Tullamore on January 10, 2023 and interviewed but he said he had no recollection of the incident.

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Mr Sweeney, who had told Detective Garda Hunter on Christmas Eve that he would “get retribution” was arrested on February 9, 2023 but exercised his right to silence when detained and interviewed.

However, when he was cautioned by a garda in hospital Mr Sweeney told of how he had come around a corner in Arden View, heard an argument and then got “a dart” from “Dean” whose second name he did not know.

He ran away until he could not go any further and Tommy McCarthy called an ambulance for him.

Replying to William Fennelly, BL, prosecuting, Detective Garda Hunter said Mr Sweeney was a native of Clifden but had been living in Tullamore for a number of years.

He had a total of 50 previous convictions, the vast majority of which were for road traffic offences but there were also convictions for theft and violent disorder.

At the time of the Christmas Eve offence the man was on bail for charges connected to uncontrolled dogs and the hunting of wild animals. He was convicted of those in Clifden and received a four-month sentence which expired last week.

Detective Garda Hunter said Mr Ward was a native of Tullamore who had 15 previous convictions including road traffic offences, assault and drugs. At the time of the offence he was on bail for a drug possession charge.

The garda added that Mr Lynch had not made a victim impact statement.

Desmond Hayes, BL, for Mr Ward, said his client had no weapon on Christmas Eve and it was an unidentified third male who had a weapon.

David Nugent, BL, for Mr Sweeney, also said that his client had no weapon and the CCTV showed that he had joined the other two males.

He had lost 1.5 litres of blood on the night and his life had been saved by neighbours who performed a tourniquet on his wound.

The court was also told that gardai never really established the background to what had happened or the motive of the two accused men. There had been no repeat of the behaviour since and gardai were eager that it remained that way.

Judge Keenan Johnson remanded both men on bail to appear in court on October 7 for finalisation of sentencing.

Judge Johnson said the offences, where the men had entered into a home in such a violent fashion, were very serious and there would be a custodial element to the sentence. “There has to be,” he remarked.

He added that he would bear in mind that “peace had reigned” since the incident.

Mr Ward, who had been abusing substances since the age of 16, was ordered to undergo monthly analysis of his urine, submit to supervision by the probation service, observe a curfew, sign in at the local garda station and have no contact with Mr Lynch.

Mr Sweeney was ordered to reside at Racecourse Hill, Clifden, Co Galway and stay out of Tullamore with the exception of court appearances or for medical reasons.

He must also submit to supervision by the probation service, observe a curfew and sign in at Clifden Garda Station.