‘Have money in two days, or you're dead' – Intruders threaten to kill couple and unborn child

Sunday World

07-05-2025

Before the court were John English (37) and Patrick O'Connell (35)
'Have the money in two days, or you're dead.' That was the chilling message delivered to a couple in Campile when two men broke into their house.
The incident at St James's Villas was the subject of a case dealt with at a sentencing hearing in the Circuit Court by Judge James McCourt.
Before the court were John English (37) from Ramsgrange, now living in New Ross, and Patrick O'Connell (35) with an address of Abbey View, Campile.
They admitted burglary, making threats to kill or cause serious harm, and criminal damage to the back door of a home in St James's Villas.
Also in the dock was Dermot O'Connell who pleaded guilty when charged with trespass on July 21, 2021.
That was the date on which English and Patrick O'Connell forced the door of the home of Matthew Cullen and his pregnant partner Shannon Power.
They were armed with a crowbar and a small baseball bat and they came looking for payment of a debt.
The court heard from plain clothes Garda Conor Walsh that a dispute over a van may have inspired the terrifying episode.
Mr Cullen found himself struck repeatedly about the head, arm and chest with the crowbar and O'Connell also tried to bite his ear.
The garda estimate that the household was hit about 20 times in all during this ordeal before he managed to wrestle the weapon from his attacker.
Meanwhile English pushed Ms Power against a wall, telling her that he would kill her and her unborn baby.
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The two intruders made off on foot with a dog and with Dermot O'Connell who was waiting outside.
The third man told Mr Cullen and Ms Power that they had two days to pay before 'lads from Dublin' arrived to collect the sum claimed.
A blue Berlingo van later found parked near an Aldi supermarket was believed to have been the trio's getaway vehicle.
They had been recognised and were arrested for questioning in the weeks and months following the incident.
The court was told that English was foreman on a building site while the younger O'Connell worked as a fisherman.
In a victim impact statement, Sharon Power asked the judge to show no mercy to the defendants.
She wrote that she feared for her life and described the lasting effect of the break-in: 'My safe place is no longer my safe place. I became scared of my own shadow.'
She was checked out at the time in hospital and found to be physically unharmed while her partner sustained a large number of superficial injuries.
The judge learned that English is a father of two, described by his barrister Ronan Kennedy as a well regarded tradesman.
Counsel said that his client was suffering from addiction problems at the time of the offences and had since gone to rehab at Aisirí.
English's memory of the night of the break in was limited.
He remembered being asked to help collect some money and next he remembered waking up with blood on his hands.
'This offence is very much rooted in addiction,' suggested Mr Kennedy.
Dermot O'Connell was given a suspended six month sentence.
John English and Patrick O'Connell were handed two year terms, the final 18 months to be suspended.