Judge vows to crack down on ‘ongoing familial conflict’ in Longford and midlands region

Judge Kenneth Connolly made his statement in the hearing of Dylan Stokes (20) of Lisnanagh, Edgeworthstown, Longford who had a 20 month custodial sentence suspended for a period of three years.

Detective Sergeant Keelan Brennan outlined details of the incident in which Daniel Lawrence sustained multiple stab wounds to his head, stomach, back and arm following the attack outside Aldi, Athlone Road, Longford on April 1, 2019.

The incident stemmed from “a history of antagonism” over a relationship between Mr Lawrence and Kate Stokes, a sister of the accused.

On the day of the attack Mr Lawrence and Kate Stokes were about to enter the Aldi store when the defendants' mother Margaret Stokes and Chantel Stokes walked towards them. The court was told Margaret Stokes said: “The cheek of you, to put your father up on stories,” referring to a social media post by her daughter.

She then slapped Kate Stokes across the face. The court heard Mr Lawrence told Margaret Stokes to leave his then girlfriend alone. In the ensuing argument Chantel Stokes produced a can of deodorant and sprayed it in the victim's face.

Kevin Stokes Jnr and Dylan Stokes then ran across a car park and attacked Mr Lawrence. Kevin Stokes used a knife, inflicting serious injuries to the victim's head and stomach, while Dylan Stokes hit Mr Lawrence.

The attack lasted around 30 seconds, then the assailants ran off. The victim “had no idea what happened” and did not realise he was stabbed. The extent of his injuries was so serious he had to be airlifted to hospital and underwent emergency surgery.

Detective Sergeant Brennan said Dylan Stokes was arrested, but remained silent during the interview. The Det Sgt acknowledged the defendant had “certain intellectual difficulties”.

In his victim impact statement Daniel Lawrence, who attended the court hearing, outlined how the attack affected him. He sustained physical injuries resulting in scars to his head and neck, but has also suffered depression and anxiety in the wake of the attack.

He gets very stressed and avoids going out. Mr Lawrence said he was once confident, but no longer participates in sports.

Issues that developed since the attack “sometimes put a strain” on his current relationship.

The victim spoke of flashbacks when he goes to Aldi and has just been released from Cluain Mhuire where he has received treatment.

He detailed nightmares, being constantly nervous, and panic attacks: “This vicious attack affected my family as much as it did me. It had a big impact on my mother. I have to get back to myself for their sake,” he said.

Outlining details of his client's circumstances barrister Gerard Groarke BL said Dylan Stokes was expelled from both primary and secondary schools. He attributed these expulsions to the defendant's “mild intellectual disability”. Mr Groarke said Mr Stokes has adaptive functioning lower than 99% of people of a similar age.

The barrister said: “Since this incident Dylan saw his father run over by a car in a deliberate attack.”

Counsel told the court this client entered a guilty plea as soon as it was established he had the capacity to enter a plea: “He was involved in this incident, but it was a spontaneous involvement. The extent of his involvement was a couple of thumps and the victim sustained no injuries from these thumps.”

Previously prosecuted for the offence Kevin Stokes Jnr received a three years and four month prison sentence for the assault, while Chantel Stokes was ordered to do 240 hours of community service for violent disorder alongside a 12 month sentence for assault, which was suspended for three years.

Judge Connolly said he accepted Stokes was not the immediate instigator of the conflict, but noted he “intervened in a conflict between families”. The judge accepted there was “no common design or joint enterprise” in the matter and observed Mr Stokes did not inflict any of the knife injuries.

The fact the defendant fled to Northern Ireland with his brother after the attack was mentioned, but also noted was his voluntary return to deal with the matter.

Judge Connolly set the sentence at three years, but outlined the mitigation: “He has only one previous conviction, so he has no significant history of previous offending. There was some class of an apology to the victim. It was not the most fulsome, it came late and was short, but it was an apology nonetheless.”

Having dealt with a number of cases related to traveller feuding in the course of the week Judge Connolly said: “I take a serious view of ongoing familial conflict. This will be eradicated as soon as possible. There appears to have been some sort of tolerance for this in the past, not by the court or the Gardaí, but by certain sections of the public. This will not be tolerated going forward.”

The judge imposed a 20 month sentence for the assault, but suspended it for three years on condition Mr Stokes be of good behaviour for a period of three years and have no unsolicited contact with the injured party or their family.