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. 21227Assault · Co. Laois · 8 Mar 2022

Man jailed for spitting on garda at Portlaoise District Court

At about 10.30am on March 8, 2022, PJ O'Shea, a 30-year-old man of Portlaoise, spat at a garda from behind while being taken to a holding cell at Portlaoise District Court in County Laois, leaving saliva on the garda's boots. He was charged with assault in relation to the offence, and at the court he admitted spitting on the garda and asked for his guilty plea to be taken into account. In May 2023 the court imposed a one-month jail sentence to run after his current sentence, which has a release date of September 2, 2023.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced5 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
The defendant spat at a garda from behind, leaving saliva on the garda's boots.
Where
The incident took place at Portlaoise District Court in County Laois.
When
The offence occurred on March 8, 2022, at about 10.30am.
Cause
The spitting happened while the defendant was being taken to a holding cell.
Charges
PJ O'Shea, 30, of Portlaoise, was charged with assault in relation to the offence.
In court
  • The defendant admitted spitting on the garda and asked the court to take his guilty plea into account.
  • According to his solicitor, the defendant appeared via videolink.
Investigation
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby gave evidence describing the incident in court.
Sentence
  • The judge imposed a one-month jail sentence to run after the defendant's current jail sentence.
  • The defendant's current sentence has a release date of September 2, 2023.
Other details
  • The defendant has 37 previous convictions.
  • The defendant's solicitor said he has addiction issues and becomes unmanageable when intoxicated.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe defendant spat at the garda from behind, leaving saliva on his boots. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offence occurred on March 8, 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred at about 10.30am while the defendant was being taken to a holding cell. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeO’Shea was charged with assault in relation to the offence. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defendant admitted spitting on the garda. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defendant asked the court to take his guilty plea into account. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed a one-month jail sentence to run after the defendant's current jail sentence. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has 37 previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant's solicitor said he had addiction issues and became unmanageable when intoxicated. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 May2023
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Spat on garda in Portlaoise District Court

    Court report on the sentence: one month in jail, to commence on expiry of the defendant's current sentence. The article gives the offence date as March 8, 2022 and the court appearance as the place of the spitting.

    convicted, PJ O'Shea, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)PJ O'Shea