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. 21122Assault causing harm · Co. Wexford · 25 Sep 2022

Man jailed for assaulting referee and umpire at Wexford GAA match

On 25 September 2022, referee Michael Lanigan was punched from behind on the back of the head after a junior football match at St Joseph's GAA grounds at Whiterock Hill in Wexford town, and umpire Edward Harding was pushed by the same man. The suspect is Glen McManus, a 34-year-old man from Cluain Dara, Clonard, Wexford, who was a mentor for St Joseph's GAA club. He was charged with assault causing harm, and the District Court sent the case to Wexford Circuit Court as too serious for that court. On 12 May 2023 he pleaded guilty there to assaulting Lanigan causing harm, Judge James McCourt sentenced him to 18 months with the final 12 months suspended, and he received a 48-week GAA ban.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced12 May
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Glen McManus, a mentor for St Joseph's GAA club, punched referee Michael Lanigan on the back of the head from behind after the referee had blown the whistle at the end of a junior football match.
  • McManus also pushed umpire Edward Harding during the same incident.
Where
The match was played at St Joseph's GAA grounds at Whiterock Hill in Wexford town.
When
The incident took place on 25 September 2022.
Other details
  • The match was an Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior Football Championship game that Our Lady's Island won by a point, 1-11 to 1-10, against St Joseph's.
  • Lanigan went to hospital with neck injuries and was out of work for several weeks before gradually returning to refereeing.
  • Reports describe this as the first time a person has been jailed for attacking a referee at a GAA match.
  • Wexford GAA said it had taken a number of steps to improve referee security since the incident.
Charges
McManus was charged with assault causing harm.
In court
  • The District Court judge declined jurisdiction and sent the case to Wexford Circuit Court because it was too serious for the District Court.
  • On 12 May 2023 McManus pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Court to assault causing harm to Lanigan, and Judge James McCourt took the assault on Harding into consideration.
Sentence
  • Judge James McCourt sentenced McManus to 18 months in prison with the final 12 months suspended, meaning six months to serve, as one report puts it.
  • McManus also received a 48-week ban from the GAA.
26 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA GAA mentor was jailed for assaulting a referee after a junior football match in Wexford. (rte.ie)
  • whatMcManus punched referee Michael Lanigan in the immediate aftermath of the match. (rte.ie)
  • whatMcManus punched Lanigan in the back of the head after the referee had blown the whistle. (rte.ie)
  • whatA man admitted assaulting a referee and an umpire after a gaelic football match in Wexford. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe junior football championship match was between the home club and Our Lady's Island, which Our Lady's Island won by a point. (rte.ie)
  • whatReferee Michael Lanigan was punched on the back of the head from behind after the match. (rte.ie)
  • whatUmpire Edward Harding was pushed by the same person. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe match was played at St Joseph's grounds at Whiterock Hill in Wexford town. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at St Joseph's GAA grounds at Whiterock Hill. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe match took place on 25 September 2022. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 25 September 2022. (rte.ie)
  • chargeMcManus was charged with assault causing harm. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe District Court judge declined jurisdiction and sent the case to the Circuit Court because it was too serious for District Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtMcManus pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Court to assault causing harm to Lanigan. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe charge of assaulting Edward Harding was taken into account. (rte.ie)
  • courtMcManus pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Court to assaulting Lanigan, causing him harm. (rte.ie)
  • courtMcManus also pleaded guilty to assaulting Harding, and Judge James McCourt took that offence into consideration. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceJudge James McCourt sentenced McManus to 18 months in prison with the final 12 months suspended. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceMcManus has been jailed for six months. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceMcManus received an 18-month prison sentence with 12 months suspended. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceMcManus received a 48-week ban from the GAA. (rte.ie)
  • otherLanigan went to hospital with neck injuries and was out of work for several weeks. (rte.ie)
  • otherMcManus also pushed a second person, Edward Harding, at the match. (rte.ie)
  • otherIt is the first time a person has been jailed for attacking a referee at a GAA match. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe referee received hospital treatment and was out of work for a number of weeks before returning gradually. (rte.ie)
  • otherWexford GAA said it took a number of steps to improve referee security after the incident. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 May2023
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    'Right signals' sent after referee assault case - chair

    Reports the sentence (18 months with 12 suspended), the taken-into-consideration assault on the umpire, a 48-week GAA ban, and the Wexford GAA referees' committee response.

    convicted, Glen McManus, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Glen McManusvictim, Michael Lanigan, irish (judged from name)Michael Laniganvictim, Edward Harding, irish (judged from name)Edward Harding
  2. 12 May2023
    Sentencedrte.ie, follow-up
    GAA mentor jailed over assaulting referee in Wexford

    Reports the Wexford Circuit Court sentence of 18 months with the final 12 months suspended, the plea of guilty, the judge's reasoning for moving the case from District Court, and that the second assault charge against Edward Harding was taken into account.

    convicted, Glen McManus, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Glen McManusvictim, Michael Lanigan, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Laniganvictim, Edward Harding, irish (judged from name)Edward Harding