Sunday 1 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. 6151Public Order Act offence; weapons offence (slash-hook); criminal damage · Co. Dublin

Man convicted of slash-hook and public order offences in Dublin

Brian Garrigan, a man aged 57, was convicted at Dublin District Court on 21 October 2024 of producing a slash-hook as a weapon, threatening and abusive behaviour under the Public Order Act, and criminal damage to freshly laid tarmac. The incident allegedly occurred on 22 October 2023 at Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin 3, during a dispute with road workers who had cut off his water supply. Garrigan pleaded not guilty at his first appearance in March 2024, and the case was set for a non-jury trial before Judge John Hughes. The judge found him guilty and said he would treat him benignly if he donated to the Make a Wish children's charity, with sentencing set for 5 November.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court7 Mar
    3 reports
  5. Convicted21 Oct
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Brian Garrigan was accused of threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour under the Public Order Act, a weapons offence for producing a slash-hook, and criminal damage to freshly laid tarmac.
Where
The incident allegedly occurred at Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin 3.
When
The incident allegedly occurred on 22 October 2023.
Cause
The incident happened during a dispute after road workers cut off his water supply and refused to turn it back on over the weekend.
Weapon
A garda said Garrigan was swinging a large slash-hook into the ground, while Garrigan said he used it to scratch away tarmac and denied swinging it.
Investigation
The accused put down the slash-hook when gardaí asked him and cooperated.
Charges
Garrigan was charged with a Public Order Act offence, a weapons offence for producing a slash-hook, and criminal damage to freshly laid tarmac.
In court
  • Garrigan pleaded not guilty to all charges at Dublin District Court on 7 March 2024, and the case was adjourned to an April sitting.
  • Judge John Hughes set a non-jury trial date of 10 July at an April 2024 appearance.
  • Garrigan was convicted after a hearing before Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court on 21 October 2024, who said he was at the end of his tether and lost the plot.
Sentence
The judge noted Garrigan had no prior convictions of relevance and said he would treat him benignly if he donated to the Make a Wish children's charity, which he agreed to do, with the case resuming on 5 November.
Other details
Garrigan is a businessman who runs an IT recovery and computer repair business and unsuccessfully ran as an independent candidate in the 2020 general election.
43 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGarrigan was accused of threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour under the Public Order Act. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatHe was accused of criminal damage to freshly laid tarmac. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatBrian Garrigan pleaded not guilty to producing a slash hook as a weapon during a dispute with a work crew in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBrian Garrigan denies producing a slash-hook as a weapon during a dispute with a work crew in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident allegedly occurred at Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident allegedly occurred at Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin 3. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident occurred at Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe incident allegedly occurred on 22 October. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe incident allegedly occurred on 22 October 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident allegedly occurred on October 22nd. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 22 October 2023. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe incident happened during a dispute. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeRoad workers cut off his water supply and refused to turn it back on over the weekend. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponHe was accused of a weapons offence for producing a slash-hook during a dispute. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponA garda said Garrigan was swinging a large slash-hook into the ground. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe accused put down the slash-hook when gardaí asked him and cooperated. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeGarrigan pleaded not guilty to all the charges. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour under the Public Order Act, a weapons offence, and criminal damage to freshly laid tarmac. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeGarrigan was accused of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour under the Public Order Act. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeGarrigan was charged with a weapons offence for producing a slash-hook during a dispute. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeGarrigan was charged with criminal damage to freshly-laid tarmac. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe faced a weapons charge for producing a slash-hook during a dispute. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHe faced a charge of criminal damage to freshly laid tarmac. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtGarrigan appeared at Dublin District Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtHis barrister confirmed that the case would be contested. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Monika Leech adjourned the case until an April sitting, when it will be mentioned to confirm the date for his hearing. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtHe appeared at Dublin District Court on a Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe pleaded not guilty to all the charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHis barrister confirmed the case would be contested. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Monika Leech adjourned the case to an April sitting, when the hearing date will be confirmed. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGarrigan has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGarrigan appeared at Dublin District Court to get a date for his non-jury trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge John Hughes will hear the case on July 10th. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGarrigan pleaded not guilty to all charges but was convicted after a hearing before Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge ruled that Garrigan had broken the law. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case resumes on 5 November. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said he would treat Garrigan benignly if he donated to the Make a Wish children's charity, which he agreed to do. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherMr Garrigan is a businessman who runs an IT recovery and computer repair business. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMr Garrigan unsuccessfully ran as an independent candidate in the 2020 general election. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGarrigan has announced on social media that he intends to run in the upcoming local elections for Dublin Central. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGarrigan said he used the slash-hook to scratch away tarmac and denied swinging it. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge said Garrigan was at the end of his tether and lost the plot. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted Garrigan had no prior convictions of relevance. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Oct2024
    Convictedthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Former election candidate ‘lost the plot’ after work crew cut off his water, court hears

    Reports the conviction at Dublin District Court on 21 October 2024 after a not guilty plea, the judge's decision to treat him benignly if he donated to a children's charity, and that the case resumes on 5 November.

    convicted, Brian Garrigan, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Garrigan
  2. 8 Apr2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Former general election candidate to face trial over slash-hook incident

    Court appearance to set a non-jury trial date; the article gives the incident date as October 22nd without a year. Accused has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

    accused, Brian Garrigan, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Garrigan
  3. 7 Mar2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Former election candidate pleads not guilty to slash-hook charge

    First report of this case. It covers the not-guilty plea at Dublin District Court, the charges, the alleged location and date, and the adjournment.

    accused, Brian Garrigan, 56, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Garrigan
  4. 7 Mar2024
    In courtthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Local election candidate denies alleged row involving slash-hook and criminal damage

    Reports the first District Court appearance on 7 March 2024, where Garrigan pleaded not guilty to all charges and the case was adjourned to an April sitting; the article does not give the date of his next court appearance.

    accused, 56, male, irish (judged from name)