Saturday 31 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. 18741Assault · Co. Longford · 6 Nov 2022

Man fined €250 for assaulting two gardaí and his girlfriend in Ballymahon

On 6 November 2022 at Thomond Lodge, Ballymahon, Co Longford, Fabiano Moraes Freitas, a 25-year-old man, was arrested after gardaí restrained him. He was charged with assaulting Garda Emma Kiernan, Garda Thomas Killian and his girlfriend, along with public order charges of intoxication in a public place, breach of the peace and resisting arrest. At the December sitting of Longford District Court, he was convicted of assaulting Garda Killian and fined €250, and the other charges were dismissed under the Probation Act. Reports published on 19 December 2023 and 2 January 2024 said he had €600 in court for the injured parties and had written an apology.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced19 Dec
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The victims named in the charges were Garda Emma Kiernan, Garda Thomas Killian and the man's girlfriend, a woman.
  • It was alleged that he struck Garda Kiernan in the eye.
  • It was alleged that during a struggle he had Garda Killian in a headlock, gripped by his legs.
Where
The incident took place at Thomond Lodge, Ballymahon, Co Longford.
When
The incident took place on 6 November 2022.
Cause
  • He had reportedly been drinking whiskey before the incident.
  • It was alleged that he pushed his girlfriend away, causing a cut to her eye.
Investigation
Gardaí restrained him, arrested him and took him to the garda station.
Charges
  • He was charged with assault causing harm to his girlfriend at 36 Thomond Lodge, Ballymahon.
  • He was charged with assaulting Garda Kiernan and Garda Killian, and also faced public order charges of intoxication in a public place, breach of the peace and resisting arrest.
In court
The case was heard at the December sitting of Longford District Court, where the judge gave him credit for his guilty pleas and his letter of apology.
Sentence
  • The judge convicted him of assaulting Garda Killian only, and imposed a fine of €250.
  • The other charges were dismissed under the Probation Act.
Other details
  • He had €600 in court as compensation for the injured parties, and his solicitor said he had written an apology.
  • Gardaí told the court there had been no incidents since the events before the court.
26 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe defendant struck Garda Emma Kiernan in the eye. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatDuring a struggle, the defendant had Garda Thomas Killian in a headlock. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe accused struck Garda Kiernan in the eye. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatDuring a struggle, the accused had Garda Killian in a headlock, gripped by his legs. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Thomond Lodge, Ballymahon. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Thomond Lodge, Ballymahon, Co Longford. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe charges relate to an incident on 6 November 2022. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 6 November 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeThe defendant had been drinking whiskey before the incident. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeThe accused had been drinking whiskey and had pushed his girlfriend away, causing a cut to her eye. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí restrained and arrested the defendant and took him to the garda station. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí restrained and arrested the accused and brought him to the garda station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with assault causing harm to his girlfriend at 36 Thomond Lodge, Ballymahon. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeHe also faced public order charges of intoxication in a public place, a breach of the peace and resisting arrest. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was charged with assaulting Garda Emma Kiernan and Garda Thomas Killian. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was also charged with assault causing harm to his girlfriend at 36 Thomond Lodge, Ballymahon. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe accused also faced public order charges of intoxication in a public place, breach of the peace and resisting arrest. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defendant's solicitor said he had written an apology for his violence. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at the recent sitting of Longford District Court in December. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge gave the accused credit for his guilty pleas and a letter of apology. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe accused had €600 in court as compensation for the injured parties. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge convicted the defendant of assaulting Garda Killian and imposed a fine of €250. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe other charges were dismissed under the Probation Act. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe accused was convicted of assaulting Garda Killian and fined €250. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had €600 in court as compensation for the injured parties. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherGardaí told the court there had been no incidents since the events before the court. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Jan2024
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    ‘Scandalous behaviour’ as man in the Midlands 'out of his head' assaults two gardaí and his girlfriend

    Court report published 2 January 2024 on the December sitting of Longford District Court. Adds the outcome: conviction on the assault on Garda Killian, a €250 fine, and dismissal of the other charges under the Probation Act.

    convicted, Fabiano Moraes Freitas, 25, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Fabiano Moraes Freitasvictim, Emma Kiernan, irish (judged from name)Emma Kiernanvictim, Thomas Killian, irish (judged from name)Thomas Killianvictim, female
  2. 19 Dec2023
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    ‘Scandalous behaviour’ as man 'out of his head' assaults two Longford gardaí and his girlfriend

    Court report from Longford District Court: the defendant was convicted of assaulting Garda Killian and fined €250, the other charges were dismissed under the Probation Act, and he had €600 in court for compensation and had written an apology.

    convicted, Fabiano Moraes Freitas, 25, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Fabiano Moraes Freitasvictim, Emma Kiernan, irish (judged from name)Emma Kiernanvictim, Thomas Killian, irish (judged from name)Thomas Killianvictim