Ireland Case No. 4426Assault · Co. Dublin · 9 Jan 2023
Garda's jail term for puddle water assault on teen replaced with community service on appeal
On 9 January 2023, Eoghan McGowan, a 29-year-old serving garda, twice filled a cup with puddle water and poured it over the tracksuit bottoms of a 17-year-old boy at Granby Place, Dublin 1, after the boy had been at Rotunda Hospital with his partner in labour. The boy reported that McGowan said 'you're p**sing yourself' during the incident, and four gardaí in plain clothes in an unmarked car did not identify themselves. McGowan pleaded guilty to assault in the District Court and was sentenced to four months in custody with two months suspended. On appeal, the District Court Appeals Court replaced the jail term with 60 hours of community service and ordered McGowan to pay a further €5,000 to the victim. McGowan remains suspended from An Garda Síochána.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced3 Dec
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A serving garda twice filled a cup with puddle water and poured it over a 17-year-old boy's tracksuit bottoms.
- The victim had been at Rotunda Hospital with his partner, who was in labour, and four gardaí in plain clothes in an unmarked car did not identify themselves.
- Where
- The incident took place at Granby Place, Dublin 1.
- When
- The incident occurred on 9 January 2023.
- Investigation
- The matter was reported to GSOC the day after the incident.
- Charges
- McGowan pleaded guilty to assault under section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
- In court
- McGowan's appeal was changed from an appeal against conviction to an appeal against severity of sentence only.
- Sentence
- He was originally sentenced to four months in custody with two months suspended.
- The District Court Appeals Court replaced the jail term with 60 hours of community service and ordered a further €5,000 payment to the victim.
- Other details
- Two other gardaí were prosecuted over the incident but the charges were dismissed.
- McGowan remains suspended from An Garda Síochána.
25 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA garda twice filled a cup with puddle water and poured it over a teenage boy's tracksuit bottoms. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim had been at the Rotunda Hospital with his partner, who was in labour. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFour gardaí in plain clothes were in an unmarked car and did not identify themselves as gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim reported that McGowan said 'you're p**sing yourself' during the assault. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatA garda twice filled a cup with puddle water and poured it over a teenager's tracksuit bottoms. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe assault happened at Granby Place, Dublin 1. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault took place at Granby Place, Dublin 1. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe assault took place on 9 January 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe assault happened on 9 January 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe matter was reported to GSOC the day after the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe incident was reported to GSOC the day after it happened. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeMcGowan pleaded guilty to assault contrary to section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMcGowan pleaded guilty in the District Court to assault under section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe appealed his conviction, which was later changed to an appeal against the severity of the sentence only. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMcGowan's appeal was changed from an appeal against conviction to an appeal against severity of sentence only. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHis two-month jail term was replaced with community service on appeal. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was originally sentenced to four months in custody with two months suspended. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed 60 hours of community service in lieu of four months imprisonment. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge ordered McGowan to pay a further €5,000 to the victim, in addition to the €5,000 already paid. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMcGowan must pay a further €5,000 to the victim in addition to the €5,000 already paid. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim was 17 and in the care of the State at the time. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcGowan apologised to the victim, who had forgiven him, and offered €5,000, which was accepted. (irishtimes.com)
- otherTwo other gardaí were prosecuted in the District Court over the incident but the charges were dismissed. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcGowan paid €5,000 to the victim as a token of remorse during the District Court proceedings. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcGowan remains suspended from An Garda Síochána. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Dec2025Garda who 'humiliated' teen with puddle water assault has sentence overturned
District Court Appeals Court replaced a four-month sentence (two months suspended) with 60 hours of community service and ordered an additional €5,000 compensation.
convicted, Eoghan McGowan, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eoghan McGowanvictim, 17, male - 3 Dec2025Garda who ‘humiliated’ teen by pouring water on his tracksuit bottoms escapes jail time
District Court Appeals Court replaced the jail term with community service and ordered a further €5,000 payment to the victim.
convicted, Eoghan McGowan, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eoghan McGowanvictim, 17, male