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. 1175Assault causing harm · Co. Waterford · 1 Aug 2025

Man further remanded in custody following alleged assault on pensioner in Waterford

A man in his 70s, Pat Fitzgerald, was found with injuries and in an unresponsive condition at a residential property in Waterford City on 1 August 2025 and was pronounced deceased at University Hospital Waterford on 3 August. David Norris, 35, of New Ross, Co Wexford, was arrested at the scene and charged with assault causing harm under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Norris appeared before Waterford District Court on 3 August and was remanded in custody by Judge Miriam Walsh. At a second appearance on 6 August, he was further remanded to appear at Waterford District Court on 19 August 2025.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged1 Aug
  4. In court6 Aug
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man in his 70s was found with injuries and unresponsive at a residential property in Waterford City on 1 August 2025 and was pronounced deceased at University Hospital Waterford on 3 August 2025.
  • David Norris, 35, of New Ross, Co Wexford, was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
Where
The alleged assault occurred at Saint Catherines Grange, Waterford City, and the victim was from Slievekeale on the western side of Waterford city.
When
Gardaí and emergency services responded shortly after 2:00pm on Friday, 1 August 2025.
Charges
Norris was charged with assault causing harm under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
In court
  • Norris appeared before Waterford District Court on 3 August 2025 and was remanded in custody by Judge Miriam Walsh.
  • At a second appearance on 6 August 2025, Judge Walsh further remanded Norris to appear at Waterford District Court on 19 August 2025.
Investigation
A post-mortem examination is to be carried out, a technical and forensic examination at the scene has been completed, and an incident room has been established at Waterford Garda Station.
Other details
  • The victim, Pat Fitzgerald, was a former ATGWU trade union official at Waterford Crystal and was predeceased by his wife Kathleen.
  • The victim is to be buried on Friday after mass at 12pm at Sacred Heart Church, The Folly, Waterford.
37 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí in Waterford are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in his 70s following an incident at a residential property in Waterford City on 1 August 2025. (garda.ie)
  • whatA male in his 70s was discovered at the scene with injuries and in an unresponsive condition. (garda.ie)
  • whatThe victim was transported to University Hospital Waterford and pronounced deceased on Sunday, 3 August 2025. (garda.ie)
  • whatA man in his 30s was arrested at the scene during the incident. (garda.ie)
  • whatFoy is an agency nurse working in intellectual disability residential services (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe reported a staff colleague for pouring water over a patient (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe HSE acknowledged the incident amounted to an assault (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe breached GDPR guidelines by reporting the incident to two other colleagues (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe began to get fewer hours and fewer premium shifts (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe colleague he reported said she did not want him rostered to work with her (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe wrote to the regional director of nursing, Eva Hayes (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe was pressured to apologise for the privacy breach and had to agree to undertake GDPR training (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused is 35 years old (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was in his 70s (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim died at University Hospital Waterford on Sunday (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was a former ATGWU trade union official at Waterford Crystal (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim started his career at Waterford Crystal as a blower (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was predeceased by his wife Kathleen (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe accused lives in New Ross, Co Wexford (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged assault occurred at Saint Catherines Grange, Waterford (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe victim was from Slievekeale on the western side of Waterford city (irishtimes.com)
  • whenGardaí and emergency services responded shortly after 2:00pm on Friday, 1 August 2025. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred in April 2020 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenIn January and February 2022 he applied for staff nurse roles but failed to secure them (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHe met Ms Hayes in October 2022 (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe suspect was detained at a Garda station within the Waterford-Kilkenny Division under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe local Coroner and the Office of the State Pathologist have been notified and a post-mortem examination will be carried out. (garda.ie)
  • investigationA technical and forensic examination at the scene has been completed. (garda.ie)
  • investigationAn incident room has been established at Waterford Garda Station. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigating Gardaí are appealing for witnesses. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe suspect was charged and appeared before Waterford District Court on Sunday, 3 August 2025. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was charged with assault causing harm under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court found he made a protected disclosure but failed to establish a direct link to the alleged penalisation (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe accused made his second appearance at a special sitting of Waterford District Court on Tuesday (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Miriam Walsh remanded the accused in custody (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe accused was further remanded to appear at Waterford District Court on 19 August 2025 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe victim is to be buried on Friday after mass at 12pm at Sacred Heart Church, The Folly, Waterford (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Aug2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man further remanded in custody following alleged assault on pensioner in Waterford

    Second court appearance; victim Pat Fitzgerald has died; further remanded to 19 August 2025.

    victim, Pat Fitzgerald, 70s, male, irish (judged from name)Pat Fitzgeraldaccused, David Norris, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Norris
  2. 6 Aug2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Agency nurse’s two complaints alleging penalisation rejected by Labour Court

    The Labour Court upheld the WRC's decision that Foy's two penalisation complaints were not well founded, finding he made a valid protected disclosure but failed to prove a direct causal link to the alleged penalisation within the six-month jurisdictional period.

    victim, Gerard Foy, male, irish (judged from name)Gerard Foy
  3. 1 Aug2025
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Serious Assault – St Catherine’s Grange, Waterford City – 1st August 2025

    Garda press release confirming the victim's death, the suspect's arrest under Section 4 and subsequent charging, the first court appearance on 3 August, and the establishment of an incident room at Waterford Garda Station.

    victim, 70s, malesuspect, 30s, male