Thursday 5 November 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. 29780Public order; shoplifting (theft) · Co. Longford · 15 Jul 2021

Longford teen spared public order and shoplifting conviction

Nineteen-year-old Paddy Rodgers was charged with public order offences and shoplifting in Longford. On 15 July 2021 he was arrested on Dublin Street holding an unopened bottle of cider after being spotted armed with a metal stick in the Great Water Street area and reported as acting threateningly and intoxicated, and he was also charged with removing a Nike runner, t-shirt and tracksuit worth €191 from Sports Direct, Ballymahon Street, two months earlier. At Longford District Court on 28 September 2021, Judge Bernadette Owens declined to convict him of either offence, issuing a Section 1(2) Probation Act order. He remains on remand in Cloverhill Prison on other charges, including an alleged assault on 25 July 2021 that left a man in his late 50s in hospital.

  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
  • Paddy Rodgers, 19, was charged with public order offences and shoplifting in Longford.
  • On 15 July 2021, Rodgers was arrested on Dublin Street holding an unopened bottle of cider after being spotted armed with a metal stick in the Great Water Street area and reported as acting threateningly and intoxicated.
  • He was also charged with shoplifting from Sports Direct, Ballymahon Street, Longford, two months prior, where he removed security tags from a Nike runner, t-shirt and tracksuit worth €191 and walked out without paying.
Where
The public order incident occurred at Dublin Street, Longford.
When
The public order incident took place on 15 July 2021 at around 10:20pm.
Weapon
Rodgers was spotted armed with a metal stick in the Great Water Street area.
In court
Judge Bernadette Owens presided at Longford District Court on 28 September 2021.
Sentence
Judge Owens did not convict Rodgers of either offence, issuing a Section 1(2) Probation Act order.
Other details
  • Rodgers is on remand in Cloverhill Prison on other charges, including an alleged assault on 25 July 2021 that left a man in his late 50s in hospital.
  • Defence solicitor Fiona Baxter said Rodgers suffered from very complex mental health issues and intellectual disabilities.
  • None of the stolen items were recovered and no damage was caused to property as a result of the public order incident.
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatPaddy Rodgers was afforded Section 1(2) of the Probation Act at Longford District Court (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatHe was arrested ten days before the 15 July incident after being spotted armed with a metal stick in the Great Water Street area (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatLocal residents told officers a man fitting Rodgers' description had been acting in a very threatening and intoxicated manner (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatRodgers was identified and arrested on Dublin Street holding an unopened bottle of cider (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatHe was also charged with shoplifting from Sports Direct, Ballymahon Street, Longford two months prior to the public order offences (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatHe was observed removing security tags from a Nike runner, t-shirt and tracksuit before walking out without paying (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatPaddy Rodgers is 19 years old with addresses at 43 Farnagh, Longford and West House Cafe, Lisanurlan, Longford (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatGardaí received a report at around 10:20pm of a male banging on the windows of an apartment complex the accused had previously resided in (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatResidents told officers a man fitting Rodgers' description had been seen acting in a very threatening and intoxicated manner (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatRodgers was arrested on Dublin Street holding an unopened bottle of cider (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatRodgers was also charged with shoplifting from Sports Direct, Ballymahon Street, Longford, two months prior to the public order offences (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe stolen goods were a Nike runner, t-shirt and tracksuit with a total value of €191 (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatNone of the stolen items were recovered (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe public order incident occurred at Dublin Street, Longford (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe public order incident took place on 15 July 2021 (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenGardaí received a report at around 10:20pm of a male banging on windows of an apartment complex (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe public order incident occurred on 15 July 2021 at Dublin Street, Longford (longfordleader.ie)
  • weaponRodgers was spotted armed with a metal stick in the Great Water Street area (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Bernadette Owens presided over the case at Longford District Court (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Owens did not convict Rodgers of either offence, instead issuing a Section 1(2) Probation Act order (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherPaddy Rodgers is currently on remand in Cloverhill Prison (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherOne of his charges involved an alleged assault on 25 July 2021 that left a man in his late 50s in hospital (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherRodgers had no previous convictions (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherNo damage was caused to property as a result of the incident (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe total value of the stolen goods was €191 and none were recovered (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherDefence solicitor Fiona Baxter said Rodgers suffered from very complex mental health issues and intellectual disabilities (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherA social worker and a representative from Galro had been assigned to provide support to Rodgers (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherSince going into custody he lost all support services (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHe had been granted bail but was unable to meet the terms due to inability to find suitable accommodation and a €100 independent surety lodgement (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherRodgers is estranged from his father and his mother left the family home a number of years ago (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHis older brother, from whom he had been inseparable, was now in state care (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherRodgers is on remand in Cloverhill Prison (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherRodgers suffers from very complex mental health issues and intellectual disabilities (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherRodgers' older brother, from whom he had been inseparable, is now in state care (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherRodgers was granted bail but unable to meet the terms due to inability to find suitable accommodation and a €100 independent surety lodgement (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 Oct2021
    Otherlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Longford man facing assault charge spared public order conviction

    Reports the court outcome: Judge Owens declined to convict Rodgers of either the public order or shoplifting charges, instead issuing a Section 1(2) Probation Act order. Provides background on his mental health, family circumstances, and current remand status at Cloverhill Prison.

    accused, Paddy Rodgers, 19, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paddy Rodgers
  2. 29 Sep2021
    Otherlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Teen accused of vicious assault on Longford man cleared of theft and public order charges

    Provides full detail of the 28 September 2021 hearing, including the public order incident (metal stick, Great Water Street, 10:20pm, apartment complex), the shoplifting (Sports Direct, Nike items, €191), and defence submissions about mental health issues, loss of support services in custody, and family circumstances.

    accused, Paddy Rodgers, 19, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paddy Rodgers