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. 5524Assault; attempting to pervert the course of justice · Co. Waterford · 9 Mar 2022

Garda sergeant convicted of assault and attempting to pervert course of justice in Waterford

A man in custody was assaulted in the AFIS room on 9 March 2022, and Sgt William Doyle (52) of Waterford Garda station was later charged. Doyle denied both charges, one of assaulting a prisoner in custody and one of attempting to pervert the course of justice by instructing a subordinate to falsify a custody record, when he first appeared at Waterford District Court earlier in 2024. On 5 July 2024 Judge John O'Leary found him guilty of both counts after a reserved decision. The judge ordered 80 hours of community service, saying the perversion charge was the more serious and merited a custodial sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced5 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Doyle was convicted of assaulting a prisoner in custody.
  • Doyle was convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice by instructing a subordinate to falsify a custody record.
Where
Doyle is a serving sergeant at Waterford Garda station.
When
The incident in the AFIS room took place on 9 March 2022.
Investigation
Garda Rachel Pratt told GSOC investigators she did not feel right falsifying the record.
In court
  • Doyle denied both charges when he first appeared at Waterford District Court earlier in 2024.
  • Judge John O'Leary delivered a reserved decision and found Doyle guilty of both counts.
Sentence
  • The judge said the attempt to pervert the course of justice was the more serious offence and merited a custodial sentence.
  • Doyle was ordered to do 80 hours of community service.
Other details
  • The judge took Doyle's 30 years of exemplary service into account.
  • The judge said he took the assault charge into account in sentencing.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereDoyle is a serving sergeant at Waterford Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident in the AFIS room happened on 9 March 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGarda Pratt told Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission investigators she did not feel right falsifying the record. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDoyle was convicted of assaulting a prisoner in custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDoyle was convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice by instructing a subordinate to falsify a custody record. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDoyle had denied both charges when he first appeared at Waterford District Court earlier in the year. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge John O'Leary delivered his reserved decision and found Doyle guilty of both counts. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe second charge was the more serious of the two offences and merited a custodial sentence. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceDoyle was ordered to do 80 hours of community service. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge took Doyle's exemplary record of 30 years of service into account. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge said he took the assault charge into account in sentencing. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 Jul2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Serving garda convicted of assault and attempting to pervert course of justice

    Reports the conviction at Waterford District Court, the sentence of 80 hours' community service, and the judge's reasoning. Says Doyle first appeared earlier in the year and denied both charges.

    convicted, William Doyle, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Doylevictim, male