Friday 30 October 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. 13484Threatening behaviour and public order offences · Co. Offaly · 17 Mar 2025

Clara man given suspended sentence over threats and pepper-spray incident in Offaly

Paul Fitzpatrick was convicted at Tullamore District Court of threatening and public order offences in Clara, Co Offaly, and given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years. The charges concern incidents at a house in Cluain Fia, Clara, on 16 and 17 March.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court22 May
    2 reports
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced10 Jun
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
56 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatPaul Fitzpatrick was charged with threatening to smash the windows of a house. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe defendant was shouting and agitated and shouted at gardaí. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe woman living at the house said he banged on a window and threatened to smash the windows. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatFitzpatrick is charged with making threats to a woman. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatHe is charged with carrying a blade which was sharply pointed. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatHe is charged with threatening to smash all the windows of a house. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatPaul Fitzpatrick had to be pepper sprayed by gardaí after threatening and shouting. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatPaul Fitzpatrick had to be pepper sprayed by gardaí. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatAn Offaly man who was threatening and shouting had to be pepper sprayed by gardaí. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened in Clara. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe house is at Cluain Fia in Clara. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • wherePaul Fitzpatrick was listed at 20 Garran An Caisleain, Kilcoursey, Clara. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incidents on both days happened outside the same house. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on 17 March. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place on 17 March 2025. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenGardaí were called to the scene on March 17. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeGardaí were called by the person living at 13 Cluain Fia. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponPaul Fitzpatrick was holding a stick with a sharp point when gardaí arrived. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponHe was holding a stick with a sharp point. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found Paul Fitzpatrick shouting and roaring outside the house on 17 March. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationPaul Fitzpatrick was arrested on 16 March and taken to Tullamore Garda Station after banging on the windows of the house. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe day before, he was arrested after banging on the windows of the same house and taken to Tullamore Garda Station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with saying he would break the windows of a house in Clara. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe was also charged with intoxication and threatening behaviour at the same address on the same date. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with trespass on the curtilage of 13 Cluain Fia on the same date. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with being in possession of an article with a blade or sharply pointed. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe is also charged with trespassing on the curtilage of the premises. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargePaul Fitzpatrick was charged with threatening to smash all the windows of a house at 13 Cluain Fia, Clara, on 16 March. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargePaul Fitzpatrick was also charged with public intoxication, holding a sharply pointed article, and trespassing on the curtilage of a house in Cluain Fia, Clara, on 17 March. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with threatening to smash all the windows of a house at 13 Cluain Fia, Clara, on March 16. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe was also charged with public intoxication, holding a sharply pointed article, and trespassing on the curtilage of a house in Cluain Fia, Clara, on March 17. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Tullamore District Court on 14 May. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Andrew Cody adjourned the case to 28 May for a Victim Impact Report. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtSentencing is due at next Wednesday's sitting of the district court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was adjourned to 28 May for a Victim Impact Report. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtFitzpatrick was not present on 28 May and the case was put back to 4 June. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtSentencing will go ahead if Fitzpatrick is not present. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at the previous week's sitting of Tullamore District Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtSergeant Kearns said Paul Fitzpatrick had 16 previous convictions, including criminal damage. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defence solicitor said Paul Fitzpatrick became upset when he was not allowed into the house to see his child on the child's birthday. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Andrew Cody said the matters were serious, although no Victim Impact Report had been received. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtGardaí said he had 16 previous convictions, including criminal damage. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defence said he apologised to the court for his behaviour. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentencePaul Fitzpatrick was convicted and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceHe was convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherGardaí used pepper spray on the defendant. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had 16 previous convictions, including criminal damage, handling stolen property and robbery. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the incident happened during his child's birthday party and that he was upset. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant apologised for his behaviour. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the defendant suffers from mental health issues. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherGardaí used pepper spray on Fitzpatrick during an earlier incident. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe Guards were called by the woman living at 13 Cluain Fia, who said he banged on a window and threatened to smash the windows. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherFitzpatrick has 16 previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the incident happened during his child's birthday party, when his ex-partner would not let him in. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherPaul Fitzpatrick apologised to the court for his behaviour. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted that no Victim Impact Report had been provided. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Jun2025
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Suspended sentence for threatening and shouting Offaly man who was pepper sprayed by Gardai

    Court outcome of the March incidents at Clara, with sentence and charge details. This is a different person and incident from case 4427 (Paul Fitzpatrick, 21, hunting accident in Carlow).

    convicted, Paul Fitzpatrick, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Fitzpatrick
  2. 10 Jun2025
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Threatening and shouting Offaly man was pepper sprayed by Gardai

    Adds the court report: the pepper-spraying by gardaí, the specific charges and dates, the arrest on the previous day, the 16 previous convictions cited, the defence plea and the judge's remarks, with the 12-month suspended sentence.

    convicted, Paul Fitzpatrick, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Fitzpatrick
  3. 2 Jun2025
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Man warned at Tullamore court that sentencing will go ahead with or without his presence

    Pre-sentencing report: Fitzpatrick did not attend the 28 May sitting, the case was put back to 4 June 2025 for sentencing, and it will proceed without him if he is absent. Adds the charges (threats, blade, threatening to smash windows, trespass), the 17 March date, and the defence account.

    accused, Paul Fitzpatrick, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Fitzpatrickvictim, female
  4. 22 May2025
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Gardai in Offaly used pepper spray on man threatened to break windows of house

    Court report on the 14 May 2025 sitting at Tullamore District Court. Adds the full list of charges, Garda use of pepper spray, the defendant's previous convictions, the defence account, and the adjournment to 28 May for a Victim Impact Report.

    suspect, Paul Fitzpatrick, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Fitzpatrickvictim, female