Thursday 5 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. 29584Assault; trespass · Co. Dublin

Ex-garda jailed for assault and trespass in Dublin

A former garda in his 30s attacked and tried to choke his former partner in two separate incidents in 2018 in Dublin. The woman and her children came home to find him asleep in the sitting room, and the children struck him with toy Power Ranger swords to protect their mother. He was prosecuted following an investigation by the Garda Ombudsman (GSOC) and pleaded guilty to trespass and assault causing harm at Dublin District Court. On 18 October 2021, Judge John Hughes sentenced him to six months in jail with the final three months suspended, plus conditions including addiction treatment, anger-management counselling and a €1,000 payment to the victim.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced18 Oct
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A former garda in his 30s attacked and tried to choke his former partner in two separate incidents in 2018.
  • The woman and her children came home to find the accused asleep in the sitting room, and the children struck him with toy Power Ranger swords to protect their mother.
Where
The incidents and the court proceedings took place in Dublin.
When
The incidents occurred in 2018, with the second happening nine months after the first.
Cause
His barrister said he had become addicted to codeine and cocaine and suffered from acute anxiety, depression and adjustment disorder.
Investigation
The case was prosecuted following an investigation by the Garda Ombudsman (GSOC), and he initially denied inflicting injuries when interviewed.
Charges
He pleaded guilty to trespass and assault causing harm at Dublin District Court.
In court
Judge John Hughes said his status as a garda at the time was an aggravating factor and ordered he cannot be identified because the victim's children were witnesses.
Sentence
  • He was sentenced to six months in jail with the final three months suspended on condition he keeps the peace and does not re-offend for two years.
  • He must remain under Probation Service supervision, attend an approved addiction treatment centre and anger-management counselling, and engage in education to obtain future employment.
  • He was ordered to pay €1,000 to his former partner and have no contact with her unless he has a court order.
Other details
He has no prior criminal convictions and left An Garda Síochána since the 2018 incidents.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe accused is a former garda in his 30s who left the force after the separate incidents in 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe children tried to protect their mother and stop the attack using toy Power Ranger swords. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe woman and her children came home and found the accused asleep in the sitting room. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused pushed one of the children and cursed when a child tried to wake him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHer children ran into the room and started striking him with their toy Power Rangers swords on the back. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe had no prior criminal convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHis barrister said he had become addicted to codeine and cocaine and suffered from acute anxiety, depression and adjustment disorder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe was involved in voluntary community activities, had a supportive family, and wrote a letter of apology the victim did not want to see. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man pleaded guilty to trespass and assault causing harm at Dublin District Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe children struck him with their toy Power Rangers swords. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe second incident happened nine months after the first. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • causeHis barrister said he had become addicted to codeine and cocaine. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe case was prosecuted following an investigation by the Garda Ombudsman (GSOC). (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationWhen interviewed by GSOC, he initially denied inflicting injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationHe was prosecuted following an investigation by the Garda Ombudsman (Gsoc). (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to trespass and assault causing harm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Hughes said being a member of An Garda Síochána at the time was an aggravating factor. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtIn the event of an appeal, the judge set bail in his bond of €500. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Hughes said the man's status as a garda at the time was an aggravating factor. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to three months in jail. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceHe was given a six-month sentence with the final three months suspended on condition he keeps the peace and does not re-offend for two years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceHe must remain under Probation Service supervision, attend an approved addiction treatment centre and anger-management counselling, and engage in education to obtain future employment. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceHe was ordered to pay €1,000 via GSOC to his former partner and have no contact with her unless he has a court order. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to six months with the final three months suspended on condition he keeps the peace and does not re-offend for two years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe was ordered to pay €1,000 to his former partner and have no contact with her unless he has a court order. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGabriel Christle was the GSOC designated officer in the case. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • otherDiarmuid Collins was prosecution counsel. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe has left An Garda Síochána since the incidents in 2018. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Oct2021
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, its first report
    Garda who tried to choke ex-partner jailed for three months

    Reports the sentencing of a former garda for two incidents of domestic violence in 2018, including details of the assault, the victim impact statement, the Gsoc investigation, and the court's reasoning on the aggravating factor of his Garda status.

    victim, femaleconvicted, 30s, male
  2. 18 Oct2021
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Ex-garda jailed for attacking partner 'while off his face on cocaine'

    Reports the sentencing of an unnamed former garda (identity protected due to child witnesses) for domestic violence offences, with the case brought by GSOC. Judge John Hughes imposed a six-month sentence with three months suspended, plus conditions including addiction treatment, anger-management counselling, and a €1,000 payment to the victim.

    convicted, 30s, male, irishvictim, female