Suspended sentences for men guilty of 'extremely violent' Offaly assault

SUSPENDED sentences were imposed on two men on condition they pay €2,500 each to a man they assaulted in Tullamore three years ago.

Michael Sweeney (23), Arden View, Tullamore and Bernie Ward (26), also of Arden View, had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Dean Lynch at his home in Arden View on Christmas Eve, 2022.

Tullamore Circuit Court heard last week that Mr Sweeney had also been convicted of burglary arising from the same incident.

Judge Keenan Johnson told a sentencing hearing that Mr Sweeney and Mr Ward, along with an unidentified third males, went to Mr Lynch's residence and knocked on the door.

All three males rushed in when Mr Lynch opened the door and it appeared that the victim was struck in the head and eye with an implement by the unidentified male.

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Judge Johnson said the incident lasted about 20 seconds but described it as “extremely violent”. The victim had to get two stitches over his eye and three to his head.

The judge said Mr Lynch defended himself with a knife and the attackers retreated. Mr Sweeney received a stab wound to his left and was “bleeding profusely”.

Judge Johnson said the court had not been furnished with victim impact statements but was satisfied the incident was “extremely traumatic” for the victim and his mother given that it was an attack on the family home.

Last June, at a preliminary sentencing hearing, the court heard CCTV captured the 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 that hearing 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.

The court was told Mr Sweeney ran away until he could not go any further and a man named as Tommy McCarthy called an ambulance for him.

Mr Sweeney 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.

Last week Judge Johnson said the offences committed by Mr Sweeney and Mr Ward carried a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison but there had been on further incidents involving the accused men and Mr Lynch since.

He noted that Mr Ward had been assessed at medium risk of reoffending and had addiction issues. He had previous convictions for possessing drugs for sale and supply, assault, careless driving, other road traffic offences and throwing an ignited firework.

Mr Sweeney had also been assessed at medium risk of reoffending and had 42 previous convictions.

He had been imprisoned in 2023 for offences relating to theft and road traffic and in March last year was jailed for offences related to illegal hunting and having an uncontrolled dog.

Mr Sweeney had also been ordered to complete 240 hours of community service last year and had his bail revoked because of a failure to attend court and as a result had spend eight months in prison for the Arden View offences.

A probation report for Mr Ward indicated he recognised the physical and psychological impact he had on the victim and his family and it was also noted he had been abusing drugs from the age of 15 but had addressed his addiction by attending Cuan Mhuire.

Letters to the court from Mr Ward said he acknowledged his wrongdoing and assured the court he had changed and would not be in further trouble.

After being in custody for eight months Mr Sweeney was released and the judge noted he had adhered to his bail conditions and engaged positively with the probation service, including completing his hours of community service.

He was “in the throes of addiction to alcohol and drugs” at the time of his offending but it appeared that he had matured and was a father with children to care for.

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He told the probation officer the time in prison made him realise he didn't want to continue with his offending and wanted to make a positive change to his life for himself and his family.

“It is clear that both accused were young and immature at the time of the offending and both were suffering addiction issues,” said Judge Johnson.

He said the assault was at the “middle of the upper range” of offending and set the headline sentence at two-and-a-half years for both men.

However, he suspended the sentences in their entirety for five years to “foster and encourage” the rehabilitation of both men.

They both entered peace bonds and agreed to remain under probation supervision for 18 months, along with continuing to engage with alcohol and drugs services.

They were ordered to stay away from the victim and the immediate members of his family and pay €2,500 each to Mr Lynch within six months.

The sentencing hearing last year was told Mr Sweeney was originally from Clifden, Co Galway and had been ordered to return there as part of his bail conditions.