Longford sentencing: read Carmel Stokes' full account of husband's savage stabbing

At a recent sitting of Longford Circuit Court, John Keenan of 37 Palace Crescent, Longford, received a sentence of 8 years and 6 months for the “savage attack” of his former best friend, Patrick Stokes, on October 10 last year. 

Mr Keenan was one of 4 people involved in the Deanscurragh ambush, which happened just yards from a national school,  where both a Garda van and car were stationed that morning amid rising feud tensions.  

Prior to Judge Kenneth Connolly delivering his verdict however, a victim impact statement written by Patrick’s wife, Carmel, was read to the court by investigating Garda, Gerald Mularkey.

In her statement, Mrs Stokes recalled the full ordeal - from the horror of seeing her husband’s attackers cheer as John Keenan stabbed him in the stomach with a kitchen knife, to her husband’s subsequent trauma and shock-induced denial that he had been attacked by the very people who were previously his closest lifelong friends. 

Below is her statement in full. 

“My name is Carmel Stokes. I'm the wife of the victim, Patrick Stokes, and the mother of our five children, aged 13, 10, 8, 5, and 2. I'm going to start, your Honour, by saying thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me the opportunity to have my voice heard; for allowing me to tell you - and the people who haven't heard - what these people standing before you have done. October 10, 2024 is a day we'll never forget.

Myself, Patrick, and our children left our home to do our normal routine. We dropped our two girls to school. The Gardaí were present outside the school.

When we got back into the vehicle to head to the gym, we turned towards Deanscurragh, which is just yards from the school. It was there that Patrick was attacked by the Keenan and (name retracted) family completely turning our lives upside down.

My husband Patrick was savagely attacked as they gave each other cheers of encouragement before running off, leaving Patrick in his own blood. I immediately put Patrick into the back of our vehicle and rushed him to MyDoc.

I think it was from MyDoc’s quick thinking that Patrick's still alive today. I felt helpless. I didn't know how serious his condition was. Patrick was taken by helicopter to the Mater Hospital and it was there that his battle had just begun.

Patrick underwent two emergency surgeries and was put into an induced coma on two separate times. I was told by doctors it was a battle Patrick had to fight himself and I didn't know what the outcome would be.

It was the most heartbreaking moment getting a phone call from the hospital to come as soon as possible. On arrival, I was told Patrick had already been put into an induced coma as he had become so unwell overnight.

I never got the chance to reassure him that everything would be okay. I didn't know if I would ever get to see him awake again. I didn't know what I was going to tell my children who were still in school. My cousin picked them up.

My daughter was so excited to tell her she'd seen a helicopter, that it was down really low, and thinking it was the best thing ever. The innocence of not knowing it was for her daddy. When I got home, I told our children that daddy had to go to England and would be back soon. Our 5 year old son asked if he would be bringing back a present.

As a mother, and Patrick as a father, we both tried to shield our children from most things in life but that was short lived. Two of his attackers did not hand themselves into Gardaí for a number of days, not before having family christenings, drinking, and partying, posting on social media, sending messages for me to keep my mouth shut, and Patrick, if he survived, all while Patrick lay in a hospital bed fighting for his life.

I begged God to leave Patrick to me. (Name retracted) did not stab Patrick but he left my husband shook and defenceless as he was already trying to protect himself and didn't see the knife coming until it was too late. (2 names retracted) were ringleaders, cheering on and encouraging what both (name retracted) and John did.

These people think they are above the law, doing the assault just yards from a primary school where both a Garda van and car were present. If we could have been given an apology at any stage before today, it might have made it a little easier but I'm sure one will be given today for court.

When Patrick was fighting for his life, these people partied, going as far as posting the food on social media showing exactly what little remorse they had. We still feel the shock from October 10 but maybe after all four have been convicted, we can try to move on.

The only way I can describe these people before you is a pack of wolves in sheep's clothing. How anyone can put another human being through that much pain and suffering is beyond me.

Patrick physically looks better and has started back to the gym. It's something he's always enjoyed doing. He says it’s good for his head. Patrick doesn’t know how to deal with his emotions, and most days are a rollercoaster of emotions, but we're seeking professional help and hopefully he'll get to put the ordeal behind him and look at himself as a survivor rather than a victim as not everybody gets to live to tell the story.

One the hardest things Patrick had to deal with is that the people who attacked him were once his best friends. He went through a denial stage of who his attackers were, all of which the doctors explained was shock. Patrick’s scar is a reminder of what happened to him. Maybe someday you will realise the pain and suffering you inflicted on another human life.

Writing this statement has been hard and has brought back memories and emotions we are trying so hard to bury. My biggest fear is that these people are walking the streets again, possibly doing the same thing again. I leave my faith in the hands of the court to serve justice for my husband.

I want to thank MyDoc for a quick response and the doctors and nurses that worked around the clock to save Patrick's life. Also a special thank you to Detective Mularkey for telling me he would get justice for Patrick. It made me feel safe at my lowest point.

Also thanks to the Gardaí for all their hard work and to the court for everything - it’s appreciated and nothing has gone unnoticed - and to God who made the final decision on saving Patrick's life. The only thing I ask of the court is justice for my husband.”