Ireland Man jailed for threats and assault on garda in Lanesboro, Co Longford
On March 5th, gardaí were called to a public order incident in Lanesboro, Co Longford, after a packet of cigarettes was stolen from a shop. The incident escalated into threats against Garda Keith O'Brien and his family, and Seán Taaffe (31), of St Matthews Park, Ballymahon, was charged with assaulting the garda under Section 3. Taaffe, who had been jailed in 2021 for similar threats against the same garda, pleaded guilty to the Section 3 assault, and the State did not proceed with the other charges. In a sentencing reported on 19 January 2024, Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court jailed Taaffe for 26 months, with the final eight months suspended.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced19 Jan
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Court heard Taaffe threatened to burn down Garda Keith O'Brien's house with his family inside and to rape the officer's wife and children.
- Court heard Taaffe threatened to burn Ballymahon Garda station with the garda inside.
- Court heard Taaffe attempted to bite the garda and headbutted him.
- Where
- Gardaí were called to a public order incident in Lanesboro, Co Longford.
- When
- The Lanesboro public order incident occurred on March 5th.
- Cause
- The incident followed the theft of a packet of cigarettes from a shop.
- Charges
- Taaffe pleaded guilty to assault under Section 3.
- The State decided not to proceed with the other charges.
- In court
- Longford Circuit Court heard the case.
- Sentence
- Judge Kenneth Connolly sentenced Taaffe to 26 months, with the final eight months suspended.
- Other details
- The garda had headaches lasting 24 hours as a result.
- Taaffe said he had consumed two bottles of whiskey since the previous evening.
- Taaffe had previously been jailed in 2021 for similar threats against the same garda.
15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man was jailed for threatening to burn down a garda's house and to rape the officer's wife and children. (irishtimes.com)
- whatTaaffe threatened to burn the garda's house with his wife and kids inside. (irishtimes.com)
- whatTaaffe threatened to rape the garda's wife and kids. (irishtimes.com)
- whatTaaffe threatened to burn Ballymahon Garda station with the garda inside. (irishtimes.com)
- whatTaaffe attempted to bite the garda and headbutted him. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGardaí were called to a public order incident in Lanesboro. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe Lanesboro public order incident occurred on March 5th. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe incident followed the theft of a packet of cigarettes from a shop. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeTaaffe pleaded guilty to the Section 3 assault. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe State decided not to proceed with the other charges. (irishtimes.com)
- courtLongford Circuit Court heard the case. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Kenneth Connolly sentenced Taaffe to 26 months with the final eight months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe garda had headaches lasting 24 hours as a result. (irishtimes.com)
- otherTaaffe said he had consumed two bottles of whiskey since the previous evening. (irishtimes.com)
- otherTaaffe had previously been jailed for similar threats against the same garda in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Jan2024Man (31) who made ‘absolutely vile and repugnant’ threats to garda jailed
Reports the sentencing of Seán Taaffe at Longford Circuit Court, including his prior conviction for similar threats against the same garda in 2021 and the intoxication he described.
convicted, Seán Taaffe, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seán Taaffevictim, Keith O'Brien, irish (judged from name)Keith O'Brien