Saturday 31 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. 21128Assault · Co. Westmeath · 3 Jun 2012

Former League of Ireland player awarded €505,000 over Garda assault in Athlone

On the night of 3 June 2012 in Irishtown, Athlone, Co Westmeath, Michael Sheehan, a 62-year-old former League of Ireland player, said he was pepper sprayed and assaulted by gardaí after an alleged public order incident. Sheehan had earlier been acquitted by a criminal court of a Public Order Act offence. On 10 May 2023 a High Court civil jury found that gardaí used excessive force and assaulted him, and awarded him damages of €505,000 (one report gives €500,500) plus legal costs against the State. The judge stayed the order if €75,000 is paid immediately and an appeal is lodged with the Court of Appeal.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Michael Sheehan, a 62-year-old former League of Ireland player from Hillquarter, Coosan, Athlone, Co Westmeath, claimed he was pepper sprayed and assaulted by gardaí.
Where
The incident happened in Irishtown, Athlone, in the centre of the town, after an alleged public order incident.
When
The incident occurred on the night of 3 June 2012.
Cause
Sheehan said he was arrested after an interaction with three gardaí following an alleged public order incident, while the State said he acted aggressively and was pepper sprayed after another person assaulted a garda.
Weapon
Sheehan alleged that pepper spray was applied directly into his face at very close range.
Other details
  • Sheehan said he was manhandled, struck on the back of the head and kneed in the back on the way to the garda station.
  • Sheehan said he suffered facial, head and back injuries, as well as depression and insomnia.
  • The judge stayed the order if €75,000 is paid immediately and an appeal is lodged with the Court of Appeal.
Charges
Sheehan was earlier acquitted by a criminal court of an offence under the Public Order Act.
In court
  • A High Court civil jury found that gardaí used excessive and unreasonable force and assaulted Sheehan in the back of a Garda car and in the yard of Athlone Garda Station.
  • The defendants, the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice and the State, fully denied the claims of assault, false imprisonment and negligence.
Sentence
  • The High Court jury awarded Sheehan damages of €505,000, although one report gives the figure as €500,500 in its opening lines.
  • The judge awarded Sheehan his legal costs against the State.
44 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSheehan claimed pepper spray was applied directly into his face at close range. (rte.ie)
  • whatSheehan claimed he was struck on the back of the head and kneed in the back while being taken to the garda station. (rte.ie)
  • whatA jury found that Michael Sheehan was assaulted by members of An Garda Siochana. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA civil jury found that gardaí assaulted Michael Sheehan and awarded him €505,000 in damages. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMr Sheehan said he was pepper sprayed and assaulted by Garda members on the night of 3 June 2012. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA jury awarded €505,000 in damages to a former League of Ireland player after finding he was assaulted by gardaí. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatMr Sheehan claimed he was pepper sprayed and assaulted by gardaí. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened in Irishtown, Athlone, after an alleged public order incident. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred in Irishtown, Athlone, during an alleged public order incident. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe incident followed a public order incident in Irishtown, Athlone. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident occurred in Irishtown, Athlone, in the centre of the town. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on the night of 3 June 2012. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com, offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeGardaí applied pepper spray directly into Sheehan's face at extremely close range. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe State claimed Mr Sheehan acted aggressively towards gardaí and was pepper sprayed after another person assaulted a garda. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeMr Sheehan said he was arrested after an interaction with gardaí following an alleged public order incident. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponPepper spray was applied directly into Mr Sheehan's face at very close range, he alleged. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMr Sheehan was earlier acquitted by a criminal court of an offence under the Public Order Act. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA civil jury found gardaí used excessive and unreasonable force in dealing with Sheehan. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury found Sheehan was assaulted in the back of the garda car and in the yard of Athlone Garda Station. (rte.ie)
  • courtSheehan had previously been acquitted by a criminal court of an offence under the Public Order Act. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe defendants fully denied the claims of assault, false imprisonment and negligence. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury found that Gardaí used excessive and unreasonable force against Sheehan. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury found that Sheehan was assaulted in the back of a Garda car and in the yard of Athlone Garda barracks after his arrest. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury found that gardaí used excessive and unreasonable force against Mr Sheehan. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury found Mr Sheehan was assaulted in the back of the Garda car and in the yard of Athlone Garda barracks after his arrest. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury found that gardaí used excessive and unreasonable force in dealing with Mr Sheehan. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe jury found Mr Sheehan was assaulted in the back of the Garda car and in the yard of Athlone Garda barracks. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceA High Court jury awarded Sheehan €505,000 in damages. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceSheehan was also awarded his legal costs against the State by the judge. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceMr Sheehan was awarded damages of €505,000. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceMr Sheehan was awarded his legal costs against the State. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherSheehan was awarded damages of €505,000. (rte.ie)
  • otherSheehan said he was arrested and then assaulted by a Garda who used unreasonable force. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherSheehan said he was manhandled and struck on the back of the head and kneed in the back on the way to the Garda barracks. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherSheehan said he suffered injuries to his face, head and back, and depression and insomnia. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherSheehan had been acquitted of an offence under the Public Order Act by a criminal court. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe defendants fully denied the claims of assault and false imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMr Sheehan said he suffered facial, head and back injuries, as well as depression and insomnia. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe jury awarded Mr Sheehan damages of €505,000. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge awarded Mr Sheehan his legal costs against the State. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge stayed the order if €75,000 is paid immediately and an appeal is brought to the Court of Appeal. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defendants fully denied that gardaí assaulted and falsely imprisoned Mr Sheehan. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherMr Sheehan was acquitted of an offence under the Public Order Act by a criminal court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge stayed the order if €75,000 is paid immediately and an appeal is lodged. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 May2023
    Otheroffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Former League of Ireland player living in Midlands awarded €505,000 in damages after being assaulted by Gardai

    Civil High Court action for damages, not a criminal prosecution. The jury found gardaí used excessive force and assaulted Mr Sheehan in the Garda car and in Athlone Garda barracks yard, and awarded €505,000 plus costs.

    victim, Michael Sheehan, 62, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Sheehan
  2. 10 May2023
    Otheririshtimes.com, follow-up
    Former League of Ireland footballer (62) assaulted by gardaí on night out awarded €505,000 damages

    Reports the High Court civil jury verdict and €505,000 damages award against the State and Garda Commissioner, plus the jury's findings of excessive force, legal costs and a stay pending appeal.

    victim, Michael Sheehan, 62, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Sheehan
  3. 10 May2023
    Otherthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Former League of Ireland player wins €505k damages after being assaulted by Gardai

    Reports the High Court civil jury verdict: damages of €505,000, a finding of excessive and unreasonable Garda force, and an award of legal costs against the State. Sheehan had earlier been acquitted of a Public Order Act offence.

    victim, Michael Sheehan, 62, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Sheehan
  4. 10 May2023
    Otherrte.ie, follow-up
    Ex-footballer awarded €505k after assault by gardaí

    Reports a High Court jury awarding €505,000 in damages to Michael Sheehan, finding excessive force by gardaí and assault in the garda car and at Athlone Garda Station. The article gives the damages as €505,000, with the award also reported elsewhere in the article as €500,500 in its opening lines.

    victim, Michael Sheehan, 62, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Sheehan