Thursday 5 November 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. 29702Public order; possession of an offensive weapon; possession of drugs; trespass · Co. Laois · 15 Aug 2021

Man sentenced for public order offences in Portlaoise

Gavin Swayne, a 20-year-old man from Portlaoise, was charged with public order offences at three locations in Laois in August 2021, along with possession of an offensive weapon, possession of drugs, and trespass. The victim in the case is JJ Kirby. He had been in custody since 2 September 2021 and appeared at Portlaoise District Court. The court imposed a three-month prison sentence and a further three-month consecutive sentence suspended for 12 months, conditional on engaging with the Probation Service and receiving addiction treatment.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced11 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gavin Swayne, 20, of 63 Hillview Drive, Knockmay, Portlaoise, was charged with public order offences at Carmody Way, Market Street Mountmellick, and Rossvale Court, plus possession of an offensive weapon, possession of drugs, and trespass.
  • He was drunk and abusive, called gardaí pigs and retards, told them to f**k off, and threatened to break a garda's jaw.
  • While in garda custody he was found in possession of a roller rail from a filing cabinet hidden down his trouser leg.
Where
The incidents occurred at Carmody Way, Market Street Mountmellick, and Rossvale Court in Laois.
When
He was charged on 15 August 2021 at Carmody Way and Market Street, and on 25 August 2021 at Rossvale Court; he had been in custody since 2 September 2021.
Charges
He was charged with possession of an article contrary to section 9(5) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, a section 3 possession of drugs offence, and trespass at a house at Rossvale Court.
In court
He appeared at Portlaoise District Court.
Sentence
A three-month prison sentence was imposed, plus a further three-month consecutive sentence suspended for 12 months conditional on engaging with the Probation Service and receiving addiction treatment.
Other details
  • The defendant had 26 previous convictions, the most recent for public order offences including intoxication and damaging property.
  • He had a social worker in his life since age fifteen, a history of alcohol misuse, a period of homelessness, and had previously tried to get treatment at the Cuan Mhuire Treatment Centre.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGavin Swayne, 20, of 63 Hillview Drive, Knockmay, Portlaoise, appeared at Portlaoise District Court (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHe called the gardaí pigs and retards and told them to f**k off (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHe had to be arrested at the Market Street incident (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatWhile in garda custody he was found in possession of a roller rail from a filing cabinet hidden down his trouser leg (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatAt Carmody Way there had been a party at a house and the defendant threatened gardaí and had to be removed (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHe was drunk and abusive and told a garda he would break their jaw (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHe had to be handcuffed for the gardaí's safety (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereHe was charged with public order offences at Market Street, Mountmellick on 15 August 2021 (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenHe was charged with public order offences at Carmody Way on 15 August 2021 (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenHe was charged with public order offences at Rossvale Court on 25 August 2021 (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenHe had been in custody since 2 September 2021 (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with possession of an article contrary to section 9(5) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with a section 3 possession of drugs offence (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with trespass at a house at Rossvale Court (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceA prison sentence of three months was imposed (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceA further consecutive sentence of three months was suspended for 12 months on condition he engages with the Probation Service and gets treatment for his addiction (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had 26 previous convictions, the most recent for public order offences including intoxication and damaging property (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHe has had a social worker in his life since he was fifteen years of age (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHe had a history of alcohol misuse and spent a period of time homeless (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHe had previously tried to get treatment at the Cuan Mhuire Treatment Centre (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Oct2021
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Jail sentence for man who called gardai 'pigs and retards'

    Sentencing report: Swayne received a three-month prison term plus a further three-month consecutive sentence suspended for 12 months conditional on engaging with the Probation Service and getting addiction treatment. Details of the three incidents (Carmody Way, Market Street Mountmellick, Rossvale Court) and his 26 previous convictions are given.

    convicted, Gavin Swayne, 20, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gavin Swaynevictim, JJ KirbyJJ Kirby