Man convicted of burglary and assault sentenced to two and a half years in prison

A man who broke into a house with a weapon, submitting a woman to a ‘terrifying ordeal’ while wearing a covid mask to conceal his identity has been told to present himself to Castlerea Garda Station in August so that he can begin a two-and-a-half-year prison term.

John Ward (37), with an address at Woodstream, Castlerea, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by Judge Kenneth Connolly at a sitting of Roscommon Circuit Court, where he appeared charged with burglary and assault causing harm.

Mr Ward had previously taken a trial date, with a jury sworn in October for a charge of aggravated burglary and two assaults causing harm. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to accept a guilty plea on the lesser charge of burglary and one of the assault charges and those pleas were entered.

Ahead of sentencing, Mr Ward’s defence Ross Nestor BL put it to the court that he has a bed in Bushypark treatment centre to allow him to address his addiction issues, and implored the court to allow him to complete that residential treatment before sentencing.

However, Judge Connolly noted the offences took place in July 2022, four years ago, with no further offending by the accused since March 2023, “so it doesn’t seem to me that an addiction issue is at play in this matter”.

“Unfortunately, the court is of the view that this offending is too serious to allow the matter to go on. Really if he wanted to address the addiction issues, that should’ve been done a considerable amount of time ago,” he said, proceeding to sentence.

The charges related to an incident on July 14th, 2022, at an address in Cashel Park, Castlerea, and later at Mr Ward’s own address in Woodstream, when he and two other men broke into the property of Aidan Cooper, with whom they were feuding.

Mr Cooper’s girlfriend, Joanne Watts, who also lived at the Cashel Park property, heard a crash in the house after three males had entered the home armed with implements.

Judge Connolly noted the “implements” were not clearly categorised, but observed photographs of what he opined were a “hammer-type” implement, a hatchet and a baton.

The court heard how the men wore Covid masks to hide their identities, but Ms Watts recognised John Ward and another man, who is not currently before the courts.

There was damage to the rear patio of the house, and Ms Watts suffered an injury where one of the men struck her under the left eye, causing some bruising.

When the three men realised Mr Cooper wasn’t home, they left the property, with Ms Watts thereafter walking to Mr Ward’s house, armed with a knife to “remonstrate with him regarding the invasion of her home”.

Judge Connolly noted that Mr Ward attempted to restrain her and, in doing so, struck her to the face, causing a tooth to be chipped and knocking her to the ground. Ms Watts then left.

When Mr Ward was arrested, he said the assault was a case of self-defence, but gave a no comment interview regarding the original aggravated burglary incident.

He has a total of 52 previous convictions, one of which was for burglary, and two of which were for assault causing harm, together with 49 other various offences.

In sentencing, Judge Connolly noted the maximum penalty for burglary was 14 years, with the maximum for assault causing harm being five years at the time of the offence. He was invited to take the second assault causing harm charge into consideration.

Judge Connolly noted this was a “premeditated event”, which occurred against the backdrop of alcohol and drugs, as well as “bad blood” with the intended target.

Other aggravating factors included the fact that this was a violation of a residential home, that the woman was put through a “terrifying ordeal”, with significant damage done to her home, as well as her own injuries and PTSD.

It was also noted that Mr Ward and his co-entrants to the property had “absolutely no regard for any innocent person who might have been in the home at the time”, namely Ms Watts’ child who, fortunately, was not there on the night in question.

The fact that Mr Ward was assessed at high risk of reoffending, has 52 previous convictions and one subsequent conviction for assault, were also taken into account, and so the charge of burglary attracted a headline sentence of eight years, with the assault charge attracting a concurrent headline sentence of two years and six months.

Taking into account such mitigating factors as a plea of guilty, the fact he has not involved himself in any further offending in over three years, is married with four children and has a number of positive testimonials, Judge Connolly reduced those sentences to six years and six months, and 22 months respectively.

Noting a sum of €2,000 in court as compensation, he opted to suspend the final four years of the six years and six months sentence for a period of five years post release subject to a number of conditions, including that he have no unsolicited contact with the injured party for life. The 22 month sentence will run concurrently.

Finally, Judge Connolly put a stay of 12 weeks on the committal warrant, owing to the fact that Mr Ward’s wife was due a caesarean section and would require a period of recovery.

He therefore directed Mr Ward to present himself to Castlerea Garda Station no later than 2 p.m. on August 31st, to begin his prison term.

In the intervening period, he is to sign on daily at Castlerea Garda Station.

Published as part of the Court Reporting Scheme.