Garda and Roscommon GAA player pleads guilty to late-night assault in Ennis
An off-duty garda and Roscommon GAA player, Caoileann Fitzmaurice, 31, pleaded guilty at Ennis District Court to assaulting hotel porter Olufegun Lawal at the Queen's Hotel, Abbey Street, Ennis, Co Clare, on 21 January 2023. Fitzmaurice, who was exceptionally intoxicated, struck Lawal twice, once in the nose and once in the left eye, and Lawal caught a third blow, suffering a bloody nose. The incident was captured on CCTV and a witness saw Fitzmaurice holding onto Lawal and kicking out on the street. The case, prosecuted by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, was heard before Judge Alec Gabbett, who adjourned it to 25 June 2025 for finalisation and ordered a probation report. Fitzmaurice offered €5,000 in compensation, which Lawal stated he would accept.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted11 Apr
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Fitzmaurice, an off-duty garda stationed in Dublin and Roscommon GAA player, was exceptionally intoxicated and in a confused state when he assaulted Lawal, a hotel porter, at the Queen's Hotel.
- Fitzmaurice struck Lawal twice, once in the nose and once in the left eye, and Lawal caught a third blow, suffering a bloody nose and receiving medical attention later that morning.
- Where
- The incident occurred at the Queen's Hotel, Abbey Street, Ennis, Co Clare, and spilled onto the street where a witness saw Fitzmaurice holding onto Lawal and kicking out.
- When
- The incident occurred on 21 January 2023.
- Investigation
- The incident was captured on CCTV footage.
- Charges
- Fitzmaurice pleaded guilty to assaulting Lawal.
- In court
- The case was prosecuted by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and heard at Ennis District Court before Judge Alec Gabbett.
- Sentence
- The judge adjourned the case to 25 June 2025 for finalisation and ordered a probation report.
- Other details
- Fitzmaurice offered €5,000 in compensation to Lawal, which Lawal stated he would accept.
- Fitzmaurice did not invoke his status as a member of An Garda Síochána during the incident.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatFitzmaurice was exceptionally intoxicated and in a confused state at the time of the assault. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFitzmaurice struck Lawal two times, once in the nose and once in the left eye, and Lawal caught a third blow. (irishtimes.com)
- whatLawal suffered a bloody nose and received medical attention later that morning. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe incident spilled onto the street where a witness saw Fitzmaurice holding onto Lawal and kicking out. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe incident was captured on CCTV footage. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFitzmaurice did not invoke his status as a member of An Garda Síochána during the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 21 January 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe prosecution was taken by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at Ennis District Court before Judge Alec Gabbett. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge adjourned the case to 25 June 2025 for finalisation and ordered a probation report. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFitzmaurice offered €5,000 in compensation to Lawal, which Lawal stated he would accept. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 11 Apr2025Garda and Roscommon GAA player pleads guilty to late-night assault
Guilty plea entered at Ennis District Court; case adjourned to 25 June 2025 for finalisation with probation report ordered. Prosecution taken by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. €5,000 compensation offered and accepted.
victim, Olufegun Lawal, male, non-irish (judged from name)Olufegun Lawalconvicted, Caoileann Fitzmaurice, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Caoileann Fitzmaurice