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. 17746Assault · Co. Longford · 29 Jan 2023

Longford man's assault charge struck out over GAA dinner dance attack

Sean Campbell (27), a man from Longford, was charged with a section 3 assault on another man at a GAA dinner dance at the Longford Arms Hotel, Longford, at 1.30am on Sunday, January 29, 2023. The injured man was taken to Midoc and then to Mullingar A&E for x-rays and treatment. Campbell appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens in March 2024, after bringing €5,000 to court as compensation, and the judge struck out the charge. No conviction is recorded, and the judge warned that he would not get this opportunity again.

  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
  • Campbell was charged with a section 3 assault on another man at a GAA dinner dance.
  • The accused is reported to have hit the injured man five or six times.
  • Gardaí found the injured man with a cut to the nose, a bloody left eye and dried blood on his chin.
Where
The incident took place on the dance floor of the Longford Arms Hotel, Longford.
When
The incident happened at 1.30am on Sunday, January 29, 2023.
Cause
The injured man accidentally bumped into the accused and apologised, and the accused took issue with this.
Weapon
The accused hit the injured man at least twice with a trophy, though one article describes it as a cup.
Other details
  • The injured man was taken to Midoc and then to Mullingar A&E for x-rays and treatment.
  • Campbell brought €5,000 to court as compensation from his own savings.
  • Campbell had no previous convictions and was part of a local team that had just won the junior championship.
Investigation
The accused was fully cooperative with gardaí, and a probation report on him was before the court.
In court
  • Campbell appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens charged with the assault, and the judge struck out the charge.
  • The judge warned that the defendant would not get this opportunity again.
Sentence
No conviction is recorded against Campbell.
22 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe accused hit the injured man five or six times. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatGardaí found the injured man with a cut to the nose, a bloody left eye and dried blood on his chin. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe accused hit the other man five or six times. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe injured man had a cut to the nose, a bloody left eye and dried blood on his chin. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at the Longford Arms Hotel. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe assault took place at the Longford Arms Hotel. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened at 1.30am on Sunday, January 29, 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe assault happened at 1.30am on Sunday, January 29, 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeThe injured party accidentally bumped into the accused and apologised. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeThe accused took issue after the injured party accidentally bumped into him and apologised. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe accused used a trophy to hit the injured party at least twice. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeCampbell was charged with a section 3 assault on another man. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeSean Campbell was charged with a section 3 assault on another man at a GAA dinner dance. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtCampbell appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge struck out the charge and warned that the defendant would not get this opportunity again. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtCampbell appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens charged with the assault. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused had no previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherCampbell brought €5,000 to court as compensation from his own savings. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe injured man was taken to Midoc and then to Mullingar A&E for x-rays and treatment. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused was fully cooperative with gardaí and has no previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused was part of a local team that had just won the junior championship. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherCampbell brought €5,000 to court as a gesture of compensation from his own savings. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Mar2024
    Otheroffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Man in the Midlands who hit victim with trophy at GAA Dinner Dance has assault charge struck out

    Reports that Judge Bernadette Owens struck out the section 3 assault charge against Sean Campbell, after he brought €5,000 to court as compensation. No conviction is recorded.

    accused, Sean Campbell, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Campbellvictim, male
  2. 27 Mar2024
    Otherlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Longford man who hit victim with cup on dance floor has assault charge struck out

    Reports the court hearing before Judge Bernadette Owens, where the charge was struck out, along with details of the incident, the injuries and Campbell's probation report and compensation payment.

    accused, Sean Campbell, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Campbellvictim, male