Three men have been sentenced to 15 years each in prison for multiple charges in connection with a "mob" attack on security guards protecting a repossessed house in Co Roscommon in 2018.
59-year-old Martin O'Toole of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris in Co Mayo, 58-year-old Patrick Sweeney of High Cairn, Ramelton in Co Donegal and 57-year-old Paul Beirne of Boyle in Co Roscommon were convicted on 15 of the 17 charges they faced.
All three had denied the charges.
The men were convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Court last month of taking part in what was described as a "sustained and brutal" attack in the early hours of 16 December 2018 at the house at Falsk at Strokestown.
At their sentencing hearing today, Judge Martina Baxter described the attack as "a case of common design" and she said Mr O'Toole, Mr Sweeney and Mr Beirne engaged and participated in the acts committed on the night, which she said were carried out by "a mob".
The judge said there was a "gratuitous disregard" for the life of those present and she said the attack was clearly a "terrifying experience" for the four security guards who gave evidence during the trial.
She said the fact one of the security guards was forced to eat the faeces of his dog was "truly callous and horrifying" and she said the incident amounted to "gratuitous degradation and humiliation".
The judge said the crimes were "highly organised and deliberate" and she said there was "calculated brutality" for the purpose of inducing fear in the security guards.
Ms Justice Baxter said there was a "large absence of mitigation" factors and there was no apology or contrition and she also said there was an absence of humanity.
"There is no defence for such lawlessness," she added.
She said the aggravating features included the planning and pre-meditation involved as well as the number of victims and the gross violation of their human rights.
She imposed different lengths of sentences for the various counts.
15 years each for the false imprisonment of one of the security guards and 14 years each for the false imprisonment of three other men.
A 13-year term was given for the count of aggravated burglary, with ten years in respect of the counts of violent disorder and arson.
A sentence of 8 years was imposed for criminal damage and 5 years for animal cruelty.
The judge ordered that the sentences are to run concurrently, and back dated to when the men were taken into custody, meaning the three men have been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The judge said there was no element of suspension.
Around 50 supporters of the men, who were in court, heckled after the sentences were handed down by Ms Justice Baxter, with "what a joke" among the shouts.
During the trial, the court heard the house involved had been repossessed by KBC bank, and the owner of the property, Anthony McGann who lived there with two siblings, had been forcibly removed five days earlier.
Security personnel were staying at the house, sleeping and keeping watch in shifts.
At around 5am on 16 December 2018, a group of around 20 to 30 people arrived at the property in a truck or a lorry.
They were armed with pickaxes, chainsaws, meat cleavers, baseball bats, a stick with nails in it, and hurleys and that they forced their way into the house.
The security guards were seriously assaulted. Their vehicles were set on fire, windows and doors in the house were smashed and a German Shepherd dog was beaten and had to be put down by a vet.
One of the security guards, who told the jury he thought he was going to die, described during his evidence how his German Shepherd dog, called Quinn, was beaten unconscious with a baseball bat and how he was forced to eat its faeces.
Two of the convicted men, Martin O'Toole, who represented himself in court, and Patrick Sweeney, were captured on a body camera worn by the security guards.
Paul Beirne, who works in the cattle business, drove the lorry on the night.
Martin O'Toole, Patrick Sweeney and Paul Beirne were found guilty by a jury in May of false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel; arson to three vehicles, aggravated burglary, criminal damage to the front door of the house, violent disorder, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by causing or permitting an animal to be struck on the head.
They were found not guilty of arson to one of the cars, a Vauxhall which was set alight, and robbery of a wristwatch from one security guard.
