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. 20673Assault on a garda · Co. Offaly · 23 Dec 2022

Kilkenny man sentenced for headbutting garda in Tullamore patrol car

On 23 December 2022 at 1.13am, Garda Eoin Mulheir was headbutted in his patrol car at Watermill Lane, Tullamore, County Offaly, by a man he had just arrested. The man, Gary McInerney, aged 39 and from Ballygriffin, Kilmacow, County Kilkenny, had refused to give his name and address, and was handcuffed and placed in the car, where he became violent and kicked out at the other garda's seat. McInerney was charged with failing to provide a name and address and with assaulting Garda Mulheir. At Tullamore Court he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment suspended for two years and fined €500, as reported on 16 June 2023.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced16 Jun
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Garda Eoin Mulheir was headbutted on the side of the head in his patrol car by a man he had just arrested.
  • After the man refused to give his name and address, he was handcuffed and placed in the car, where he became violent and kicked out at the other garda's seat.
Where
The incident happened at Watermill Lane in Tullamore, County Offaly.
When
The offences took place on 23 December 2022 at 1.13am.
Other details
  • The man, Gary McInerney, was 39 years of age and from Ballygriffin, Kilmacow, County Kilkenny.
  • He had seven previous convictions, including theft.
  • His solicitor said he suffers from depression and takes medication for it.
  • He wrote a letter of apology to Garda Mulheir.
Cause
His solicitor said he had had far too much to drink and could remember very little.
Charges
  • Gary McInerney was charged with failing to provide a name and address following a demand by Garda Eoin Mulheir.
  • Gary McInerney was also charged with assaulting Garda Eoin Mulheir.
In court
The case was heard at Tullamore Court, where his solicitor said he was pleading guilty and he pleaded guilty.
Sentence
He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment suspended for two years and fined €500.
43 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA garda was headbutted in his patrol car by a man he had just arrested. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatWhen McInerney refused to give his name and address, gardaí handcuffed him and put him in the car, where he became violent. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatMcInerney headbutted Garda Mulheir on the side of the head. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatMcInerney started kicking out at the other garda's seat. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHe headbutted Garda Mulheir on the side of the head. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatHe kicked out at the other garda's seat in the car. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened at Watermill Lane in Tullamore. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereA Garda was headbutted in his patrol car in Tullamore. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened in a Garda patrol car in Tullamore. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereThe offences took place at Watermill Lane, Tullamore. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenThe offences happened on December 23, 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe charges relate to 23 December 2022 at Watermill Lane, Tullamore. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened at 1.13am. (leinsterexpress.ie, kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenThe offences were on 23 December 2022. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • causeHis solicitor said McInerney had had far too much to drink. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeThe defence said McInerney had had far too much to drink. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeHe refused to give his name and address to gardaí, so they handcuffed him and put him in the car. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeGary McInerney was charged with failing to provide a name and address following a demand by Garda Eoin Mulheir. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeGary McInerney was also charged with assaulting Garda Eoin Mulheir. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeMcInerney was charged with failing to provide a name and address. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeMcInerney was also charged with assaulting Garda Mulheir. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeGary McInerney was charged with failing to provide a name and address. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeHe was also charged with assaulting Garda Mulheir. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtMcInerney's solicitor said his client was pleading guilty. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtMcInerney's solicitor said he was pleading guilty. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Tullamore Court. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • sentenceMcInerney was convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceMcInerney was fined €500. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceMcInerney was sentenced to six months' imprisonment suspended for two years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceMcInerney was also fined €500. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceHe was convicted and sentenced to six months' imprisonment suspended for two years. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • sentenceHe was fined €500. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherMcInerney had seven previous convictions, including theft. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherMcInerney was 39 years of age, according to his solicitor. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHis solicitor said McInerney suffers from depression and takes medication for it. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherMcInerney wrote a letter to Garda Mulheir apologising for his behaviour. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherMcInerney refused to give his name and address, so gardaí handcuffed him and put him in the car, where he became violent. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherMcInerney was 39 years of age. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherMcInerney wrote a letter of apology to Garda Mulheir. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHis solicitor said he had had far too much to drink and could remember very little. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherHe wrote a letter of apology to Garda Mulheir. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherHe had seven previous convictions, including theft. (kilkennypeople.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Jun2023
    Sentencedkilkennypeople.ie, first report
    Kilkenny man that headbutted garda had 'far too much to drink'

    Court report on the sentencing of Gary McInerney, not matched to any existing case. Adds the sentence, previous convictions, the defence account and the apology letter.

    convicted, Gary McInerney, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary McInerneyvictim, Eoin Mulheir, irish (judged from name)Eoin Mulheir
  2. 16 Jun2023
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Man headbutted Laois Offaly Garda had 'far too much to drink'

    Court report on the sentencing. Adds the guilty plea, the defendant's previous convictions, the sentence and fine, and the defendant's age. The article gives no earlier stages of the case.

    convicted, Gary McInerney, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary McInerneyvictim, Eoin Mulheir, irish (judged from name)Eoin Mulheir
  3. 16 Jun2023
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Suspended sentence for man who headbutted Garda in patrol car in Tullamore

    Reports the guilty plea, the court's account of the incident, the sentence of six months suspended for two years and a €500 fine.

    convicted, Gary McInerney, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary McInerneyvictim, Eoin Mulheir, male, irish (judged from name)Eoin Mulheir