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Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Man admits ‘sinister' harassment of couple following death of Mayo fan
Brendan Rowland admitted sending Peter and Anne Byrne cards signed from 'Joe' on several occasions A friend of tragic Mayo GAA fan Joe Deacy has pleaded guilty to harassing the owners of the house where the UK national was found unconscious before his death in 2017. Mr Deacy (21), of St Albans, England, was found unresponsive in the driveway of the home of Peter and Anne Byrne at Gortnasillagh, Swinford, Co Mayo, at 6.45am on August 12, 2017. Brendan Rowland (30), who is originally from Ballycroy, Co Mayo, but has been living in the UK for over a decade, admitted his part in a broader 'sinister' and 'orchestrated' harassment campaign of Peter and Anne Byrne. Castlebar Circuit Court heard that between December 2018 and December 2019, the couple received 40 cards to their home signed from 'Joe' on occasions including their birthdays, wedding anniversary, Mother's Day and Christmas. The court heard that on the couple's wedding anniversary they received a single black rose with a message '29 years, I didn't get that long', signed 'from Joe'. Mr Rowland was found to only be linked to 12 cards sent to the Byrnes. Patrick Reynolds BL, for the DPP, outlined to Judge Eoin Garavan the background to the case. Mr Reynolds said Joe Deacy was 'found in an unconscious state' in the driveway of the Byrnes' home when he was a guest and friend of their son, Conor, on August 12, 2017. Mr Deacy was brought to Mayo University Hospital and later transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, but died the following day. According to a post-mortem examination, the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. In December 2018, the Byrnes began to receive cards with sinister messages, and this continued for a period of almost 13 months. Mr Reynolds said 26 cards were signed from 'Joe' or 'Joseph' and referenced the 'conscience' of persons. Mayo fan Joe Deacy died in August 2017 A garda investigation traced some stamps to a post office in Ballycroy, and CCTV identified Brendan Rowland's mother as the person who bought them. Mr Rowland was subsequently arrested and interviewed, and made admissions in relation to some cards received by the Byrnes. The court heard he asked his mother to post them. However, she opened and read one card and refused to post those in her possession. Mr Reynolds told the court that the cards subject to the charges contained handwritten messages including: 'To the wholly honest Byrnes, everyone knows the truth. I hope this Christmas brings truth not cowardice.' Ms Byrne broke down in tears several times as she read her victim impact statement. She said her family had been 'persecuted by false information in the media and on social media', which led to a toxic hate campaign against her family. Describing the cards as 'poisonous', Ms Byrne said she received them on Mother's Day and her birthday. She said that as a cancer survivor it was 'repugnant' to her that some of the cards were sourced from a cancer charity. Mrs Byrne said she and her family 'did nothing wrong', and did everything they could to help Mr Deacy. 'Joe was a lovely young man and we welcomed him into our home,' she said. She said she had 'great sympathy' for his family and added: 'We also grieve for Joe.' Ms Byrne ended her statement by appealing for anyone with information to come forward. Mr Byrne, a vet with the Department of Agriculture, said the cards left him and his wife in 'great fear'. He said one card read: 'Hope you have a killer Christmas.' Brendan Rowland leaves Castlebar District Court. Photo: Oisín McGovern Mr Byrne said the experience left him feeling he had 'come in contact with a kind of evil I had never experienced in my life'. He said he was asleep in bed when he was alerted to Mr Deacy's unconscious state, and immediately called an ambulance before he began CPR. Mr Byrne said he also called the gardaí before the ambulance left, and then went directly to Mr Deacy's cousin's house to alert him. He said he and his family then left their home, giving gardaí full access to examine it and the surrounding property. 'I don't know what else we could have done,' he said. 'Brendan Rowland doesn't know me,' he said but still subjected him 'to a personal campaign of hatred'. 'We did nothing wrong,' he added. Mr Byrne said 'Joe Deacy was a lovely young man,' and appealed for 'anyone who has information as to what happened to Joe, please come forward,' he said. Defence counsel Laura Byrne BL said her client was 'ashamed and wants to offer an apology'. The defence counsel said Mr Deacy was supposed to stay with her client on the night he was injured, and his death 'engulfed' Rowland's life. Judge Garavan said the circumstances of the case were 'extremely difficult' and much is unresolved almost eight years after the tragedy. Describing Mr Rowland's actions as 'sinister' and 'criminal', Judge Garavan said he would finalise sentencing in October.
Irish Independent
23-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Mayo man (70) pleads guilty to careless driving causing death of Tesco worker
Martin Cullinan (70) of Kilmicalla, Irishtown, County Mayo to be sentenced for careless driving causing the death of Andrea Gornowicz (58) A 70-year-old man has pleaded to careless driving which caused the death of Tesco worker Andrea Gornowicz. Ms Gornowicz, a German national who lived in Mayo for over 40 years, died in a car crash on the N17 at Castlemacgarrett, County Mayo, on May 16 last year. Martin Cullinan, with an address at Kilmicalla, Irishtown, County Mayo, pleaded to guilty to causing her death by driving without due care and attention when he appeared before Castlebar Circuit Court. Acceding to a request from defence barrister, Desmond Dockery, SC, Judge Eoin Garavan adjourned the matter until October 16 to allow for the completion of a probation report Ms Gornowicz was 58 years old when she died in a three-vehicle collision which occurred between Ballindine and Claremorris. She was a highly regarded member of staff in Tesco Claremorris, where she worked for a number of years.
Sunday World
18-07-2025
- Sunday World
Mum-of-five (43) who bit, scraped and spat at gardaí after arrest jailed
Rosemary Sweeney from Kiltimagh assaulted two guards who were attempting to remove her shoes while she was intoxicated A mother-of-five who bit, scraped and spat at two gardaí has been given a six-month prison sentence. Rosemary Sweeney of Carrick, Kiltimagh, County Mayo, attacked two gardaí while severely intoxicated as they tried to move her into a cell in 2022. The 43-year-old, who has 18 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to Section 3 assaults on Garda Darren Mullahy and Garda Patrick Egan when she appeared before Castlebar Circuit Court earlier this year. On Thursday, June 30, Garda Patrick Egan responded to a report of a female intoxicated and lying on the ground in Kiltimagh, County Mayo. Gda Egan arrived at the scene and found Rosemary Sweeney in an intoxicated state and unable to stand up unaided. Assisted by Garda Carrol Murray, Gda Egan arrested her and conveyed her to Claremorris Garda Station. Stock photo Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 18th After arriving at the station at 2.45pm, Gda Egan introduced her to Garda Darren Mullahy who put her details into the custody record. Gda Egan and Gda Mullahy then attempted to place her in the station cell. While doing so, she became abusive. Sweeney then spat at Gda Mullahy and began to kick out at both gardaí. During the altercation, she scraped Gda Mullahy's neck and bit Gda Egan's left index finger, causing it to bleed. She continued to kick as they attempted to remove her shoes, striking Gda Egan in his left knee in the process. Gda Mullahy incurred bruising, an abrasion on his left shin and suffered pain in his shoulder and lower back following the assault. Gda Egan had to receive a tetanus shot, painkillers and antibiotics as a result of being bitten on the hand and was advised to rest for four to six weeks. The injured gardaí declined to give victim impact statements. Wednesday's sitting of Castlebar Circuit Court heard there were two outstanding bench warrants against Sweeney at the time of her arrest. The court was told that the bulk of her previous offences were related to intoxication. These include eleven public order offences, three assaults and three thefts. She recorded her first conviction when she was 39 years old and has been in custody since February on foot of sentences imposed by other courts for separate offences. Defence barrister Diarmuid Connolly, instructed by solicitor Cathy McDarby, said that his client had not seen her children – who are between 14 and 24 years old – since entering the Dóchas women's prison earlier this year. Mr Connolly said it was 'appalling' that two gardaí were assaulted, but described his client's actions as 'a knee-jerk reaction of someone who was frightened and intoxicated in a situation that was unfamiliar to her'. Since entering custody, he said his client has made progress and has enjoyed her longest period of sobriety in recent years. Mr Connolly said his client was 'deeply remorseful' and 'deeply ashamed' of her actions and said her time in custody had given her an 'exquisite tutorial in what will happen if she resorts to drink and drugs again'. 'This is a lady that needs a helping hand more than punishment,' Mr Connolly said. Judge Eoin Garavan said he had 'no sympathy for her' on account of her previous bench warrants and said she 'didn't learn her lesson' after previous court appearances. He imposed a headline sentence of two years in custody, reduce suspending 12 months of the sentence for three years. Judge Garavan directed her to undertake an addiction course during or after her time in prison. He also ordered that she be supervised by the probation services for the first two years of her three-years suspended sentence and comply with all directions regarding her addiction.
Sunday World
17-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man on temporary release from prison tried to reverse into garda van three times
Oisín O'Laoi jailed after pleading guilty to criminal damage, dangerous driving and driving without a license or insurance after drinking in Westport A circuit court judge has said a man on temporary release from prison who attempted to reverse into a garda van three times behaved like 'an utter and complete menace'. Judge Eoin Garavan sentenced Oisín O'Laoi (25) to four years in jail after he pleaded guilty to criminal damage, dangerous driving and driving without a license or insurance while on temporary release from a low-security prison. O'Laoi, of Cregg, Leitir Mealláin, County Galway, made full admissions to the offences after being arrested with assistance from the Armed Support Unit. The court heard that he was on temporary release from Loughan House prison when he went binge drinking on New Year's Eve 2023. O'Laoi, who has 71 previous convictions and a long history of alcohol misuse, consumed Jack Daniels whiskey and several vodkas before driving off in an Opel Insignia, the court heard. At approximately 5am on January 1, 2024, Garda Padraic O'Connor was driving a garda patrol van with Garda Darragh Lyons when he saw O'Laoi driving on the Newport Road in Westport. O'Laoi, who was the sole occupant of the car, drove through a red light on the South Mall before turning left onto Castlebar Street and right onto Distillery Road, through another set of traffic lights, before turning left onto Altamount Street before heading out the Ballinrobe Road. He failed to stop when Gda O'Connor activated the blue lights on the patrol van, and a chase ensued during which O'Laoi drove on the wrong side of the road through six different town lands. On two occasions, O'Laoi waited for the patrol van to catch up to him before attempting to reverse into it. When Gda O'Connor and Gda Lyons lost sight of the van at Moate, Killawalla, Garda Paul Deeley followed O'Laoi, who again tried to reverse into the pursuing garda vehicle. O'Laoi drove into Ashwood estate and ran into his girlfriend's house. Gardaí seized his vehicle and requested the assistance of the Armed Support Unit. O'Laoi had to be pepper sprayed while being arrested before gardaí conveyed him to Westport Garda Station. While being interviewed by gardaí, the 25-year-year old admitted to drinking on the night and that he was not insured to drive the vehicle. Tuesday's sitting of Castlebar Circuit Court heard that O'Laoi received his first driving disqualification when he was 17. He was disqualified from driving for six years by Galway Circuit Court in 2019 and received a second six-year disqualification in 2021. When told he could request the services of a solicitor, O'Laoi replied: 'I don't need one. I f**ked up.' Defending barrister Mark Ryan, BL, acting under instruction from solicitor Gary Mulchrone, said his client was living in Westport where he works as a general operative and groundsman. He is currently in a relationship and has a five-month-old daughter and three other children. Mr Ryan told the court that his client was inclined to drink heavily whenever he does consume alcohol. O'Laoi is currently on medication to alleviate his alcohol cravings and had attended Cuan Mhuire addiction treatment centre in County Galway. 'He is endeavouring to deal with his addictions issue in the best possible way. It continues to be a struggle,' said Mr Ryan. Citing his probation report, Mr Ryan said his client understands the danger he caused to gardaí and that he has to address his addiction. 'When he is sober, these issues don't tend to arise,' said Mr Ryan. He said O'Laoi had apologised to gardaí for his actions and had shown 'genuine empathy and insight'. Mr Ryan requested that the judge be as lenient as possible with sentencing to allow O'Laoi to address his recovery from addiction. O'Laoi had been being granted temporary release from Loughan House low-security prison on October 8. His probation report found him to be at moderate risk of reoffending. His previous convictions include producing a knife, public order offences and 12 convictions for driving without insurance. The court was told that O'Laoi had been under the attention of the probation services since he was 16 years old. Judge Garavan noted O'Laoi's history with alcohol and his early guilty plea but said he had no choice but to impose a custodial sentence for what he labelled 'appalling egregious behaviour'. He imposed a five-year headline sentence, which he reduced to four years on account of mitigating factors, suspending the final year of the sentence for three years. Judge Garavan imposed another one-year sentence to run concurrently and ordered that he be supervised by the probation services for the first year of his three-year suspension.
