Ireland Father and son sentenced to community service over Donegal Town bouncer assaults
Liam Ward, 28, and his father William Ward, 59, assaulted two security staff, Sean Douglas and Marcin Manczykowski, at a charity boxing match at the Abbey Hotel in Donegal Town on 29 October 2022. Both men had consumed large amounts of alcohol. Gardaí interviewed both men, and hotel CCTV footage of the assaults was later shown in court. The pair pleaded guilty at Donegal Circuit Court before Judge John Aylmer, and on 12 April 2025 they were sentenced to 240 hours of community service in lieu of 15 months in prison, with 12 months to complete it. They also donated €18,000 to their victims.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced12 Apr
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Liam Ward and William Ward, a father and son, pleaded guilty to assaulting two security staff.
- Sean Douglas and Marcin Manczykowski were the two security staff assaulted at a charity boxing match.
- Both victims suffered injuries, reported as fractures and severe bruising.
- Where
- The assaults happened at the Abbey Hotel in Donegal Town, County Donegal.
- When
- The assaults happened on 29 October 2022.
- Cause
- Both men had consumed large amounts of alcohol.
- Investigation
- Gardaí interviewed both men about the assaults.
- Footage of the assaults from the hotel's CCTV was shown in court.
- In court
- The pair pleaded guilty at Donegal Circuit Court before Judge John Aylmer.
- Other details
- The judge said the starting point for sentencing would be two years in prison before mitigation.
- Sentence
- The men were sentenced to 240 hours of community service in lieu of 15 months in prison, with 12 months to complete it.
- The men donated €18,000 to their victims.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe Ward father and son pleaded guilty to assaulting two security staff. (donegallive.ie)
- whatThe assaults happened at a charity boxing match. (donegallive.ie)
- whatBoth victims suffered injuries including fractures and severe bruising. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe assaults happened at the Abbey Hotel in Donegal Town. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe assaults happened on 29 October 2022. (donegallive.ie)
- causeBoth men had consumed large amounts of alcohol. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationBoth men were interviewed by gardaí about the assaults. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationFootage of the assaults from the hotel's CCTV was shown in court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe pair pleaded guilty at Donegal Circuit Court before Judge John Aylmer. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe men were sentenced to 240 hours of community service in lieu of 15 months in prison. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe father and son were given 12 months to complete the community service. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe men donated €18,000 to their victims. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe judge said a starting point for sentencing would be two years in prison before mitigation. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Apr2025Father and son avoid prison after assault of Donegal Town bouncers
Sentencing report for the Donegal Circuit Court case. Adds the sentence, the €18,000 compensation, the victims' injuries and the court's remarks. Does not match case 6940, which concerns a different incident involving Liam Ward and a garda in Bundoran.
convicted, Liam Ward, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Wardconvicted, William Ward, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Wardvictim, Sean Douglas, male, irish (judged from name)Sean Douglasvictim, Marcin Manczykowski, maleMarcin Manczykowski