Thursday 29 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. 8429Public drunkenness, breach of the peace · Co. Offaly

Man apologises after recording proceedings at Tullamore District Court

A 62-year-old man faces public order charges, including public drunkenness and breaches of the peace, for alleged offences committed between December 6, 2025 and May 1, 2026 in Tullamore and Portlaoise. In May he received a three-month sentence, with another three months to be served consecutively, at a District Court in another county. At Tullamore District Court, a man apologised after he was seen briefly recording proceedings on his phone, and Detective Sergeant David Scahill intervened to tell Judge Andrew Cody and then deleted the 37-second recording. Judge Cody remanded the accused with consent to bail and set a video link court date for August 6. The sources name no victim.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court30 Jul
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 62-year-old man faces public order charges, and he has mental health difficulties and is currently serving a sentence.
  • A man was seen briefly recording proceedings on his mobile phone while another man appeared by video link.
Where
The apology was made at Tullamore District Court, Offaly.
Investigation
  • Detective Sergeant David Scahill intervened during a case to tell Judge Andrew Cody that the prohibited recording was taking place.
  • Detective Sergeant Scahill examined the phone, found the recording was 37 seconds long, and deleted it.
When
The alleged public order offences were committed between December 6, 2025 and May 1, 2026.
Charges
  • The accused faces numerous charges of public drunkenness at various locations in Tullamore.
  • The accused is further accused of breaches of the peace at the hospital on three occasions.
  • The accused is also accused of public drunkenness and a breach of the peace at Lyster Square, Portlaoise.
Sentence
In May the accused received a three-month sentence, with another three months to be served consecutively, at a District Court in another county.
In court
Judge Andrew Cody remanded the accused in custody with consent to bail and set a video link court date for August 6.
Other details
  • Judge Cody previously prohibited publication of the accused's identity.
  • The accused was represented by solicitor Brian Duffy.
  • The report was published on July 30, 2026, by offalyexpress.ie.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe apology was made at Tullamore District Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences were committed between December 6, 2025 and May 1, 2026. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationDetective Sergeant Scahill examined the phone and found the recording was 37 seconds long. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationDetective Sergeant Scahill deleted the recording. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe accused faces numerous charges of public drunkenness at various locations in Tullamore. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is further accused of breaches of the peace at the hospital on three occasions and of public drunkenness and a breach of the peace at Lyster Square, Portlaoise. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge remanded the accused in custody with consent to bail and set a video link court date for August 6. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe accused had received a three-month sentence, with another three months to be served consecutively, at a District Court in another county in May. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherA man was seen recording proceedings briefly on his mobile phone. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherDetective Sergeant David Scahill intervened during a case to tell the judge that the recording was taking place. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused has mental health difficulties and is currently serving a sentence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused was represented by solicitor Brian Duffy. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Jul2026
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Man caught in Offaly court using phone to record proceedings

    Reports the courtroom recording incident, the detective's intervention and deletion of the video, and the accused's public order charges and remand at Tullamore District Court.

    accused, 62, male