Violent disorder during Longford school drop-off left man fighting for his life

Two people have been jailed, with another two facing incarceration for a violent disorder incident, “savage in nature”, while members of the public brought their children to a nearby school.

John Keenan (31), of 37 Palace Crescent, Longford, Martin Keenan (35), of 81 Ardnacassa Avenue, Longford, Winnie Keenan (29), of 5 Palace Crescent, Longford, and her husband David Joyce (29) of the same address, all appeared at Longford Circuit Court where evidence was heard of what Judge Kenneth Connolly called an incident of “utter impunity” and “an unambiguous, foul gesture towards public law in this country”.

All four had pleaded guilty to charges of violent disorder on October 10, 2024, at Deanscurragh, Longford, early in the morning while children were being dropped to a nearby school and Gardaí were present.

John Keenan was also charged with production of an article and section 3 assault causing harm.

A section 4 assault causing serious harm was also added to the indictment. He will be sentenced for that in October, pending medical reports.

Martin Keenan was also charged with production of an article, namely a shovel, and previously pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, while David Joyce was charged with the production of a shovel and a screed in the course of the dispute.

Garda Gerard Mullarkey told Shane Geraghty BL, prosecuting, that an anonymous report was made to Gardaí early on October 10, stating that there would be a “flashpoint” at the school.

At 9.30am, Gardaí arrived to the area, where they told Patrick and Carmel Stokes to move on after they had dropped two of their five children to school.

CCTV footage from a house in the area shows Mr and Mrs Stokes passing a Hyundai Tucson and a white tow truck, from which the four accused alighted, blocking traffic trying to exit onto the main Dublin road.

Michael Keenan had a shovel, and David Joyce carried a screed and a shovel, which were taken from the back of the white tow truck. The footage also shows John Keenan recovering something from the right pocket of his gilet.

Winnie Keenan can be seen running down the road after the Stokes couple’s vehicle, shouting and gesturing, before the three men run at speed off screen.

A WhatsApp clip made by a motorist who was stuck in traffic as a result of the incident showed the four accused shouting as they ran down the street.

A loud noise is heard as Michael Keenan swings the shovel, wich connected with Patrick Stoke’s shoulder and arm. At this stage, Mr Stokes was also stabbed in the abdomen, allegedly by John Keenan.

The attack is followed by cheering and shouting from the accused as all four are seen running back towards their vehicles.

Mr Stokes attended Midoc but said he felt no pain as adrenaline and shock took over. It was only when he was airlifted from Midoc to the Mater Hospital that he began to feel pain.

He spent 22 days in hospital and underwent two surgeries. He was in an induced coma, suffered two collapsed lungs, and contracted sepsis in both the stab wound itself and behind his lungs.

In a victim impact statement, Carmel Stokes said that October 10 is “a day we’ll never forget”, because her husband was “savagely attacked” as the four accused “gave each other cheers and encouragement before running off and leaving him in his own blood”.

“They’re a pack of wolves in sheep’s clothing,” she said.

All four accused, when arrested, exercised their right to silence. Gda Mullarkey explained that the incident related to an ongoing feud that started in June of last year when a member of the Keenan family was assaulted by a relative of Carmel Stokes.

John Keenan has 32 previous convictions and was on bail at the time of this offence, awaiting sentence for an affray which occurred on October 10, 2021.

He was sentenced to two years and six months in November 2024 for that offence. His other convictions include assaults, public order and road traffic offences.

Michael Keenan has 15 previous convictions and was also on bail for the same affray, for which he received a similar sentence of two years and six months. His previous convictions include affray, violent disorder, road traffic offences, and drug offences.

David Joyce has a total of 51 previous convictions, including public order, assault, road traffic offences, production of articles, theft, fraud and handling stolen property.

He was also on bail for the same affray and received a two year and six month prison sentence in November.

His wife, Winnie Keenan, has 40 previous convictions, including violent disorder, production of articles, theft, public order and road traffic offences.

Judge Connolly expressed his concern for the five children of Ms Keenan and Mr Joyce, stating that it is “tantamount to child abuse to expose children to such criminal behaviour”.

He stressed that the role of anyone as a parent does not preclude them from a custodial sentence and expressed his distaste that “impressionable, beautiful, nice young children would grow up exposed to such conduct”.

He said he hadn’t “the slightest hesitation” in setting a headline sentence of three years in prison for Ms Keenan, which he mitigated down to two years and three months before pausing the sentence and adjourning it to October, when a pre-sanctioned report will asses her suitability for community service and the restorative justice programme.

Her husband, David Joyce, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, which will be served consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving.

Michael Keenan received a three year sentence for the violent disorder and a concurrent three year sentence for the section 3 assault. Those three years will be served consecutively to his current sentence.

John Keenan will reappear at the next sittings of Longford Circuit Court where he will face a charge of section 4 assault causing serious harm to Patrick Stokes.

Feuding will attract a significant penalty, said Judge Connolly, who has put the message out many times that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated while he sits as Circuit Court judge in Longford.

“This was an utter disregard for society in general. These acts were brazen, perpetrated with impunity, with a disregard for the law. It must be deterred as strongly as possible,” he said.

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