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. 20415Assault (assault on a garda) · Co. Laois · 22 Sep 2022

Man sentenced for assaulting garda at National Ploughing Championships

Eric Russell, 25, of Kilmallock, Limerick, was charged with assaulting Detective Garda Ryan after being arrested at the National Ploughing Championships at Ratheniska, Stradbally, County Laois, on 22 September 2022. In the patrol car, the man kicked the garda in the shoulder and spat and blew snot at him. He entered a guilty plea at Portlaoise District Court, where Judge Andrew Cody sentenced him to three months in prison suspended for four years. Russell, who had 39 previous convictions, was already serving a sentence in Limerick Prison and was due for release in November 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced7 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Eric Russell, 25, was charged with assaulting Detective Garda Ryan at the National Ploughing Championships.
  • In the patrol car, the defendant kicked the garda in the shoulder and spat and blew snot at him.
Where
The incident occurred at Ratheniska, Stradbally, County Laois.
When
The incident occurred on 22 September 2022.
Charges
The defendant entered a guilty plea.
In court
The case was heard at Portlaoise District Court.
Sentence
Judge Andrew Cody sentenced the man to three months in prison suspended for four years.
Other details
  • The man had consumed alcohol before the incident.
  • The garda suffered no long lasting injuries.
  • The defendant had 39 previous convictions.
  • The defendant was serving a sentence in Limerick Prison, due for release in November 2024.
  • The defendant wrote a letter of apology to Garda Ryan.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe defendant was charged with assaulting a garda at Ratheniska, Stradbally on 22 September 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatIn the patrol car the defendant kicked Detective Garda Ryan in the shoulder. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred at the National Ploughing Championships. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe defendant entered a guilty plea. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Andrew Cody sentenced the man to three months in prison suspended for four years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe man had consumed alcohol before the incident. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe garda suffered no long lasting injuries. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has 39 previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant was currently serving a sentence in Limerick Prison. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant was due for release from prison in November 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had undertaken some rehabilitation while in prison. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant wrote a letter of apology to Garda Ryan. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Jul2023
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Man 'spat and blew snot' on Garda in Laois

    Reports the guilty plea and sentencing at Portlaoise District Court, including details of the assault, the defendant's 39 previous convictions, and his current imprisonment in Limerick Prison.

    convicted, Eric Russell, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eric Russellvictim, Ryan, male, irish (judged from name)Ryan