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. 21252Assault causing harm · Co. Kilkenny · 28 Feb 2023

Man jailed for seven months after biting arresting garda in Kilkenny

William Fitzgerald, of Good Shepherd Hostel, Kilkenny, was arrested in Hebron Park, Kilkenny, after gardaí received a call on February 28, 2023, reporting that he was causing a disturbance at a home there and banging on the door. While being arrested, he bit a garda on the hand, and the garda had to attend hospital for treatment. Mr Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, obstructing a garda and trespass, and Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted him at Kilkenny District Court. He was sentenced to seven months in prison, as reported by Kilkenny People on May 5, 2023.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced4 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • William Fitzgerald was causing a disturbance at a home in Hebron Park, Kilkenny.
  • Mr Fitzgerald trespassed on to the property and was banging on the door.
  • Mr Fitzgerald bit one garda on the hand while being arrested.
Where
Gardaí found Mr Fitzgerald at another premises in Hebron Park.
When
The incident happened on February 28, 2023, after gardaí received a call.
Other details
  • The garda had to attend hospital for treatment to the injury.
  • Mr Fitzgerald had 142 previous convictions, which included a litany of public order matters.
  • The defence said Mr Fitzgerald acted in self-defence and was sorry for his actions.
  • The other charges were taken into account in sentencing.
Charges
Mr Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, along with charges of obstructing a garda and trespass.
In court
Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted Mr Fitzgerald of assault causing harm at Kilkenny District Court.
Sentence
Mr Fitzgerald was sentenced to seven months in prison.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMr Fitzgerald was causing a disturbance at a home in Hebron Park. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatMr Fitzgerald had trespassed on to the property and was banging on the door. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatMr Fitzgerald bit one garda on the hand while being arrested. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereGardaí found Mr Fitzgerald at another premises in Hebron Park. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenThe incident was on February 28, when gardaí received a call. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeMr Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to the charge, along with charges of obstructing a garda and trespass. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtJudge Geraldine Carthy convicted Mr Fitzgerald of assault causing harm at Kilkenny District Court. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • sentenceMr Fitzgerald was sentenced to seven months in prison. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe garda had to go to hospital for treatment to the injury. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherMr Fitzgerald had 142 previous convictions. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe defence said Mr Fitzgerald had acted out of self-defence and was sorry for his actions. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe other charges were taken into account in sentencing. (kilkennypeople.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 May2023
    Sentencedkilkennypeople.ie, first report
    Prison sentence for man who bit arresting garda - Kilkenny Court

    Court report on the conviction and seven-month sentence. Gives the 142 previous convictions, the guilty plea to other charges, and the defence account of self-defence. Not the same incident as the other William Fitzgerald cases in the list.

    convicted, William Fitzgerald, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Fitzgeraldvictim