Wednesday 28 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. 2561False report (making a false report tending to give rise to apprehension for the safety of persons or property) · Co. Roscommon · 1 Oct 2015

Farmer Gerard Harrington fails to secure Supreme Court appeal over false cattle report conviction

Gerard Harrington, a farmer from Boyle, Co Roscommon, who was convicted in 2021 of making a false report about missing cattle that were actually in his neighbour's shed, failed to have the Supreme Court hear his appeal after the Court of Appeal dismissed his challenge in May 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted14 Jan
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHarrington was convicted of making a false report tending to give rise to apprehension for the safety of persons or property (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe gave details of the breed, tag number and value of each missing animal (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSix of the cattle found had tag numbers matching those reported missing (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHarrington agreed before the jury that he had not been arrested and was told he was not obliged to answer questions (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe Supreme Court found Harrington did not make admissions at any stage of the interview (irishtimes.com)
  • whereGardaí found the cattle at a shed at Breedogue, Co Roscommon (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHarrington reported to gardaí in October 2015 that cattle were missing (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed Harrington's appeal in May 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Supreme Court rejected his application for leave to appeal (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court ruled the interview content was consistent with the case made at trial (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe was fined €6,500 in October 2021 (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 14 Jan2025
    Convictedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Farmer convicted of making false report about missing cattle fails to secure Supreme Court appeal

    The Supreme Court rejected Harrington's application for leave to appeal, upholding his 2021 conviction and €6,500 fine. The Court of Appeal had earlier found 'not a scintilla of evidence' that he was tricked into attending the Garda station.

    convicted, Gerard Harrington, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard Harrington