Wednesday 28 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. 0280Public order · Co. Cork · 11 Apr 2026

Man convicted of public order offence for calling garda 'bitch' at Whitegate fuel protest

Darragh Desmond, a 24-year-old man from Midleton, Co Cork, called a male garda a 'bitch' and told him to 'f**k off' before taking out his phone to film the garda after being told to leave, during a fuel protest at Trabolgan Road in Whitegate on 11 April 2026. He was charged with a public order offence. The case was heard at the District Court in Midleton in September 2026, where the judge said a protest is more powerful when peaceful and that people cannot intimidate and insult gardaí. Desmond was convicted and fined €500. He had written a letter of apology to the garda and brought €500 saved for the Garda Benevolent Fund to court.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted17 Sep
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Desmond called a male garda a 'bitch' and told him to 'f**k off' at a fuel protest, then took out his phone to film the garda after being told to leave.
Where
The fuel protest was at Trabolgan Road in Whitegate, Co Cork.
When
The incident occurred on 11 April 2026.
Charges
Desmond was charged with a public order offence.
In court
  • The case was heard at the District Court in Midleton in September 2026.
  • The judge said a protest is more powerful when peaceful and that people cannot intimidate and insult gardaí.
Sentence
Desmond was convicted and fined €500.
Other details
  • Desmond is a 24-year-old man from Broomfield, Midleton, Co Cork, and a fourth-year apprentice.
  • He wrote a letter of apology to the garda and brought €500 saved for the Garda Benevolent Fund to court.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHe took out his phone to film the garda after being told to leave (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe fuel protest was at Trabolgan Road in Whitegate (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 11 April 2026 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said protest is more powerful when peaceful and that people cannot intimidate and insult gardaí (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at the District Court in Midleton (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceDesmond was fined €500 and convicted of the public order offence (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDesmond is a fourth-year apprentice (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe wrote a letter of apology to the garda (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe saved €500 for the Garda Benevolent Fund and brought it to court (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Sep2026
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man who called garda ‘bitch’ and filmed at fuel protest convicted

    Reports the conviction and €500 fine of Darragh Desmond for a public order offence at a fuel protest, including the judge's comments on the incident.

    convicted, Darragh Desmond, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darragh Desmondvictim, male