Friday 30 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. 15858Public order offence · Co. Donegal · 22 Apr 2023

Man fined for public order offence after altercation in Donegal Town

On 22 April 2023 at about 1.20am on the Diamond in Donegal Town, a garda was knocked to the ground during an altercation in which a man attacked another man. A 44-year-old man, John Paul Conaghan, was arrested and issued a Fixed Charge Notice, which was not paid, and he was then charged with a public order offence. At a hearing in Donegal District Court on 2 October 2024, held in his absence, he was convicted and fined €750, as reported by Donegal Live on 9 October 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced9 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The man ran from Apache Pizza to the front of the Abbey Hotel.
  • The man attacked another male, grabbed him and tried to strike him.
  • A garda was knocked to the ground during the altercation.
Where
The incident took place on the Diamond, Donegal Town.
When
A garda received a report of a fight at 1.20am on 22 April 2023.
Investigation
  • The garda asked the man to let go, and he refused.
  • The man was arrested and issued a Fixed Charge Notice, which was not paid.
Charges
  • The man was charged with aggressively engaging in a physical confrontation and failing to disengage when required by gardaí.
  • The offence is contrary to Section 5(1)(a) of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 as amended by Section 22 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008.
In court
The man was not present at the hearing in Donegal District Court on Wednesday 2 October 2024.
Sentence
The judge imposed a conviction and a fine of €750, imposed in the man's absence.
Other details
The suspect is named in the court report as John Paul Conaghan, aged 44.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man ran from Apache Pizza to the front of the Abbey Hotel. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe man attacked another male, grabbed him and tried to strike him. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe garda was knocked to the ground during the altercation. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place on the Diamond, Donegal Town. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe garda received a report of a fight at 1.20am on 22 April 2023. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThe garda asked the man to let go, and he refused. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThe man was arrested and issued with a Fixed Charge Notice, which was not paid. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe man was charged with aggressively engaging in a physical confrontation and failing to disengage when required by gardaí. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe offence is contrary to Section 5(1)(a) of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 as amended. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe man was not present at the hearing in Donegal District Court on Wednesday, 2 October. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed a conviction and a fine of €750. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 9 Oct2024
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Man involved in altercation knocked a garda to the ground

    Court report on the sentencing, which took place at a hearing on Wednesday 2 October 2024. The article gives the full name and address of the convicted man and says the fine was imposed in his absence.

    convicted, John Paul Conaghan, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul Conaghanvictim, male