Thursday 29 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. 6940Assault · Co. Donegal · 23 Jan 2023

Man pleads guilty to assaulting garda at Bundoran Lidl

On 29 December 2022 Liam Ward, a man with 95 previous convictions, was charged with assaulting Garda Darren Norman at Ballyshannon Garda Station. On 23 January 2023 at the Lidl supermarket in Bundoran, Co Donegal, Ward was charged with assaulting Garda Norman, who had confronted him over a bag of alcohol, and with being intoxicated in a public place. Ward pleaded guilty to two assaults on Garda Norman at Donegal Circuit Court, a case reported on 14 December 2023. Sentencing remains adjourned to receive a victim impact statement from Garda Norman, and the judge said he could consider a suspended sentence element.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted14 Dec
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Garda Darren Norman confronted Liam Ward, who denied having anything in the bag.
  • Ward allegedly kicked Garda Norman in the chest, wrestled him to the ground and put him in a headlock.
  • Garda Norman suffered an injured back and facial damage and was forced to take almost three months off duty.
  • At Ballyshannon Garda Station on 29 December 2022, Ward allegedly punched Garda Norman in the face and lip.
Where
The Lidl incident took place at the Lidl supermarket in Bundoran, Co Donegal.
When
The Lidl incident took place on 23 January 2023.
Cause
Gardaí were called to the store after reports of a drunk man with a bag full of alcohol.
Other details
  • Garda Norman used pepper spray on Ward before Ward released his grasp.
  • Ward has 95 previous convictions for offences including assault, burglary, theft and public order, and Sergeant Stewart Doyle said he has a serious problem with alcohol and drugs.
Charges
  • Ward is charged with assaulting Garda Norman causing harm at Lidl, Bundoran, on 23 January 2023, and with being intoxicated in a public place there on the same date.
  • Ward is charged with assaulting Garda Norman causing harm at Ballyshannon Garda Station on 29 December 2022.
In court
Ward pleaded guilty to two assaults on Garda Darren Norman at Donegal Circuit Court.
Sentence
  • Sentencing was adjourned to receive a victim impact statement from Garda Norman.
  • The judge said he could consider a suspended sentence element.
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGarda Norman confronted Ward, who denied having anything in the bag. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatWard kicked Garda Norman in the chest and put him in a headlock. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGarda Norman was injured and forced to take almost three months off duty. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGarda Norman suffered an injured back and facial damage. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAt Ballyshannon Garda Station, Ward punched Garda Norman in the face and lip. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened at the Lidl supermarket in Bundoran, Co Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe Lidl incident happened on 23 January 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeGardaí were called to the store after reports of a man drunk with a bag full of alcohol. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeWard is charged with assaulting Garda Norman causing harm at Lidl, Bundoran, on 23 January 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeWard is also charged with being intoxicated in a public place at Lidl, Bundoran, on 23 January 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeWard is charged with assaulting Garda Norman causing harm at Ballyshannon Garda Station on 29 December 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtWard pleaded guilty to two assaults on Garda Darren Norman at Donegal Circuit Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceSentencing was adjourned to receive a victim impact statement from Garda Norman. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said he could consider a suspended sentence element. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGarda Norman used pepper spray on Ward before Ward released his grasp. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherWard has 95 previous convictions for offences including assault, burglary, theft and public order. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 14 Dec2023
    Convictedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Garda assaulted by drunk man who had backpack full of stolen alcohol from Lidl

    Guilty plea to two assaults on Garda Darren Norman at Donegal Circuit Court; sentencing adjourned for a victim impact statement. Also covers a second assault at Ballyshannon Garda Station on 29 December 2022.

    convicted, Liam Ward, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Wardvictim, Darren Norman, male, irish (judged from name)Darren Norman