Friday 30 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. 17387Public order offence · Co. Longford · 7 Apr 2024

Longford man pays €250 to charity to avoid conviction for abusive behaviour to gardaí

Gerard Keane, a 57-year-old man, was arrested on Ballymahon Street, Longford, at about 9.10pm on 7 April 2024, after gardaí received reports of a man acting suspiciously and found him very unsteady with a strong smell of liquor. He told gardaí 'f*ck off' and was arrested for his own safety. In the week before the case was reported in May 2024, he pleaded guilty without a solicitor at Longford District Court, where Judge Bernadette Owens noted he had no previous convictions. He was ordered to pay €250 to Bridgeways Family Resource Centre to avoid a criminal conviction, with until 15 May to make the payment.

  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
Gerard Keane, a 57-year-old man, told gardaí 'f*ck off' and was arrested for his own safety.
Where
The incident took place on Ballymahon Street, Longford.
When
The incident took place on 7 April 2024 at 9.10pm.
Cause
Gardaí received reports of a male acting suspiciously who matched the defendant's description.
Investigation
Gardaí observed Mr Keane to be very unsteady on his feet with a strong smell of liquor.
Charges
The offence is recorded as a public order offence.
In court
  • Mr Keane pleaded guilty without a solicitor at Longford District Court, with the state presenting evidence through Sergeant Enda Daly.
  • Judge Bernadette Owens noted that the accused had no previous convictions.
Sentence
  • He was ordered to pay €250 to Bridgeways Family Resource Centre to avoid a criminal conviction.
  • He was given until 15 May to make the payment.
Other details
The case was reported on 2 May 2024 in the article metadata and on 3 May 2024 in the article text.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMr Keane told gardaí to f*ck off and was arrested for his own safety. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place on Ballymahon Street, Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 7 April 2024 at 9.10pm. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeGardaí received reports of a male acting suspiciously who matched the defendant's description. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí observed Mr Keane as very unsteady on his feet with a strong smell of liquor. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtMr Keane pleaded guilty at Longford District Court without a solicitor. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Bernadette Owens noted that the accused had no previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceHe was ordered to pay €250 to Bridgeways Family Resource Centre to avoid a criminal conviction. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceHe was given until 15 May to make the payment. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 May2024
    Otherlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Longford District Court: Man apologises for being abusive

    Names the defendant as Gerard Keane, aged 57, and reports the court outcome: a €250 payment to Bridgeways Family Resource Centre to avoid a conviction, with a deadline of 15 May.

    accused, Gerard Keane, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard Keane