Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20854Assault causing harm · Co. Offaly · 6 Jun 2022

Brothers sentenced for assault causing harm in Tullamore

A scuffle broke out on the dancefloor at the Phoenix Bar in Tullamore on 6 June 2022, after which brothers Dylan McDonagh and Patrick McDonagh, both 29, are alleged to have dragged and punched Damien Bannon on the floor. Mr Bannon was taken to Tullamore Hospital, and his mother later told the court he had lost some back teeth and suffered a fractured skull. The pair first appeared at Tullamore District Court in January 2023, when Judge Andrew Cody adjourned the case pending guilty pleas. At sentencing in late May 2023, the judge imposed three-month sentences on both men, suspended for two years on a €100 bond, and they paid €4,000 in compensation to the victim.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court20 Jan
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced31 May
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A scuffle broke out on the dancefloor, and the brothers are alleged to have dragged and punched the victim on the floor.
  • The victim was taken to Tullamore Hospital, and his mother said he lost some back teeth and suffered a fractured skull.
Where
The assault took place at the Phoenix Bar, O'Connor Square, Tullamore, County Offaly.
When
The incident occurred on 6 June 2022.
Charges
Dylan McDonagh and Patrick McDonagh, both 29 (earlier reports gave ages of 25 and 27), are charged with assault causing harm to Damien Bannon.
In court
  • At Tullamore District Court in January 2023, Judge Andrew Cody adjourned the case to 8 February 2023, saying he would only accept jurisdiction if guilty pleas were entered.
  • Dylan McDonagh had no previous convictions, while Patrick McDonagh had two previous convictions for section 6 and section 2 assaults.
Sentence
  • In late May 2023, Judge Cody imposed three-month sentences on both men, suspended for two years on a €100 bond.
  • The two men paid €4,000 in compensation to the victim.
Other details
In the weeks after the assault, the victim became very anxious and worried.
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA scuffle broke out on the dancefloor (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe alleged victim had to be taken to Tullamore Hospital (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe victim was taken to Tullamore hospital after the assault. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe victim's mother said he lost some of his back teeth and suffered a fractured skull. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatBrothers Dylan McDonagh and Patrick McDonagh assaulted Damien Bannon, causing him harm. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe brothers dragged and punched the victim on the floor. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe victim's mother said he lost some back teeth and suffered a fractured skull. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • whatTwo men paid €4,000 in compensation to the victim of an assault. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereBoth defendants have addresses at Cluain na Spideoga, Cloghan (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe alleged assault took place at Phoenix Bar, O'Connor Square, Tullamore (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe assault happened at the Phoenix Bar in Tullamore on June 6, 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe assault took place at the Phoenix Bar in Tullamore. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 6 June 2022 (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe assault took place on June 6, 2022. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeDylan McDonagh (25) and Patrick McDonagh (27) are alleged to have assaulted Damien Bannon, causing him harm (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Andrew Cody adjourned the prosecutions to 8 February 2023 (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said he would only accept jurisdiction if guilty pleas were entered (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the brothers had dragged and punched the victim on the floor and that it was quite serious. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtDylan McDonagh had no previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • courtPatrick McDonagh had two previous convictions, one for a section 6 assault and one for a section 2 assault. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtPatrick McDonagh had two previous convictions, one under section 6 and one under section 2 of an assault offence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed a three-month sentence on both men, suspended for two years on their own bond of €100. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe two men handed over €4,000 in compensation to be paid to the victim. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Cody imposed three-month sentences on both defendants, suspended for two years on a €100 bond. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherTullamore courthouse had to be evacuated the previous Monday morning after an alarm sounded (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge said the assault was quite serious. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherMr Bannon was taken to Tullamore hospital after the assault. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherIn the weeks after the assault the victim became very anxious and worried. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe victim became very anxious and worried in the weeks after the assault. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherPatrick McDonagh had two previous convictions, a section 6 and a section 2 assault. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Jun2023
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, its first report
    Brothers pay €4,000 compensation to victim hospitalised following Midlands assault

    Reports the sentencing: three-month sentences suspended for two years on a €100 bond, and €4,000 compensation paid to the victim. Includes the victim's injuries as described by his mother and the prior convictions of the defendants.

    victim, Damien Bannon, male, irish (judged from name)Damien Bannonconvicted, Dylan McDonagh, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dylan McDonaghconvicted, Patrick McDonagh, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick McDonagh
  2. 1 Jun2023
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Offaly brothers pay compensation to victim of assault

    Adds that the two men handed over €4,000 compensation at the district court, the mother's account of the injuries (lost back teeth, fractured skull, later anxiety), the judge's remarks on the seriousness of the assault, each brother's previous convictions, and the sentence terms (three months suspended for two years on a €100 bond).

    victim, Damien Bannon, male, irish (judged from name)Damien Bannonconvicted, Dylan McDonagh, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dylan McDonaghconvicted, Patrick McDonagh, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick McDonagh
  3. 31 May2023
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Brothers pay compensation to victim of assault

    Court report on sentencing: each brother received a three-month sentence suspended for two years on a €100 bond, and €4,000 compensation was paid to the victim. Adds the victim's mother's account of his injuries and the brothers' previous convictions.

    victim, Damien Bannon, male, irish (judged from name)Damien Bannonconvicted, Dylan McDonagh, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dylan McDonaghconvicted, Patrick McDonagh, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick McDonagh
  4. 20 Jan2023
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Two men in court on assault charges after Tullamore incident

    Reports the first court appearance at Tullamore District Court where the case was adjourned to 8 February 2023; Judge Cody stated he would only accept jurisdiction if guilty pleas were entered. Also notes the courthouse had to be evacuated the previous Monday after an alarm.

    victim, Damien Bannon, male, irish (judged from name)Damien Bannonaccused, Dylan McDonagh, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dylan McDonaghaccused, Patrick McDonagh, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick McDonagh