Jailed for his part in armed attack on home

A member of an armed “gang” who “terrified” a local mum by invading her home, forcing her to bar herself and her two infant children in the bathroom for safety, has been jailed for five years with two years suspended.

Furthermore, within four weeks of his release, Krzysztof Bugaj (24) has been ordered to leave Ireland. So far, he has served 13 months behind bars having failed to take up bail.

With good behaviour, he was told by Judge John Aylmer, he could be back on the streets in little over two years.

Standing at just shy of six foot five, shaved head, and dressed in a green fleece top and blue denim jeans, Polish national Bugaj appeared at Cavan Circuit Court for sentencing for his role in the “violent attack”.

He was one of five people alleged to have smashed their way into the west Cavan home of Finola Poulton in an apparent revenge attack, brandishing a “screwdriver and a kitchen knife”.

Back in November 2024, he pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the property at Blackridge, Ballyconnell, on the morning of May 30, 2023.

Two other counts - of causing criminal damage to a couch and to a vehicle parked outside the same address, owned by Eve Cullen, were taken into account.

Detective Garda Joanne Gethins gave evidence, with details from the statements of evidence relayed to the court by Monica Lawlor BL for the prosecution, instructed by State Solicitor Rory Hayden.

The evening before the break-in, a friend of Ms Poulton's, Ms Cullen, arrived to her home at around 7pm with a six pack of beer, the court heard.

Later, between 10-11pm, Patrick 'Packie' Lee appeared at her door but “didn't stay long” and remained outside.

The following morning, at around 9:30am, Ms Poulton told gardaí she awoke to banging on her front door and then a smash of glass, with men entering her home having twisted the lock open.

There were five men standing in her sitting room and, terror struck, she ran and locked her children in the bathroom. Bugaj, of Flat 2, Main Street, Ballyconnell, was among them.

As she ran from past the men, Ms Poulton told gardaí she nicked her arm off a sharpened machete one of the other men was allegedly carrying.

The men then exited the property and began “smashing up” Ms Cullen's car. From the bathroom she could hear her friend “begging” the men to stop.

In interview Ms Poulton was asked if she had any idea why her home was “targetted”. Her understanding was that “something happened” between Mr Lee who had called the night before and the men who invaded her home.

Ms Cullen told gardaí that the men “smashed or damaged” all the windows of her car “except maybe one”.

She did not know the men, but told gardaí: “They destroyed my car.”

Gardaí investigated the burglary at Ms Poulton's home. The learned of an allegation that “two figures” had approached the home of some of the men at an earlier stage.

It was stated to the court that the “two figures had come to the estate” where the men lived in a car before being chased away. As it fled, one of the car windows was smashed in the process, and the allegation was that the car was the same as that parked outside Ms Poulton's.

They did not know the number of the house, but told gardaí they would find a car with its windows now broken.

Photos of the damage caused - to the window of Ms Poulton's front door and to Ms Cullen's car - were handed into the judge.

Bugaj was subsequently arrested. He was detained and interviewed, but made no admissions.

He had no previous convictions at the time.

Searches were carried out in the locality but no weapons were ever recovered.

It was noted to the court that other alleged co-accused remain before the court, and have not yet indicated a plea.

It was explained to the judge by counsel for Bugaj, Breffni Gordon BL, instructed by Garrett Fortune Solicitors, that the accused has been in custody since early 2024 having failed to take up bail because he could not provide an alternative address.

It was stated that, when Bugaj first moved to Ireland four years ago, he lived with his father from whom he is now estranged. He worked two jobs - the first he left and the second he was let go.

He had not come to any garda attention until this matter, but admitted having a problem with drugs and alcohol prior to moving to this country.

In Ireland, his primary issue was coping with alcohol abuse.

He has one brother who lives and works in the Netherlands, where Bugaj hopes to live once his sentence has lapsed.

Mr Gordon said his client lives “pretty much alone” in Castlerea Prison. “He finds it difficult, but he keeps himself to himself”, spending time in the gym, engaging in some classes, and is a member of the jail book club.

“He has no recollection,” said Mr Gordon of his defendant's actions, only that Bugaj remembers “being angry and that he went in with a weapon. Obviously he has to accept what happened thereafter.”

There was no victim impact statement before the court, and none of the witnesses wished to be present.

“She was terrified. Not only for herself but also for her children,” said Judge Aylmer of Ms Poulton, who set a headline sentence of seven years before mitigation was considered.

The judge pointed out that the home was “targetted” and Bugaj knew it was occupied at the time. However, the judge accepted that the defendant's early plea was “valuable".

He reduced the overall term to five years, suspending the final two years with conditions as set out.