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. 19636Assault · Co. Laois · 17 Mar 2021

Man sentenced over assaults on paramedic and gardaí in Portlaoise

Rory Freeman, a 29-year-old man, was charged over an incident at his home in Portlaoise, Co Laois, on March 17, 2021, during Covid restrictions, when gardaí were called to assist a paramedic there. He had been drinking what was described as unusual alcohol at a barbecue, and he was also charged with public intoxication, obstruction and criminal damage to a patrol van. He admitted assaults in the Circuit Court in June, where he received an 18-month sentence suspended for three years and agreed to pay €12,000 to the victims. In the District Court, reported on October 2, 2023, he was given three months suspended for three years for assaults on gardaí, and the judge ordered the €800 he had gathered to be donated to the Cara Curley Foundation.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced2 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí had been called to assist a paramedic at the address.
  • The man assaulted a paramedic and gardaí; one source says four gardaí were assaulted, while the District Court sentence refers to assaults on three gardaí.
  • The man spat in the back of the patrol van.
Where
The incident happened at the man's address at 54 Higgins Park, Fairgreen, Portlaoise, Co Laois.
When
The incident happened on March 17, 2021, during Covid restrictions.
Cause
The man had been drinking what the article calls unusual alcohol at a barbecue.
Charges
The man was charged with assault, public intoxication, threatening and abusive behaviour, obstruction and criminal damage to a patrol van.
In court
  • Two of the more serious matters from the same incident were dealt with in the Circuit Court in June.
  • The man admitted assaults in the Circuit Court.
Sentence
  • In the Circuit Court the man was given an 18-month sentence suspended for three years.
  • The man agreed to pay a total of €12,000 to the victims of the assaults.
  • In the District Court the man was sentenced to three months suspended for three years for the assaults on three gardaí.
  • The judge ordered the €800 the man had gathered to be donated to the Cara Curley Foundation.
Other details
The man had no criminal record before the incident.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí had been called to assist a paramedic at the address. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatFour gardaí were assaulted. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe defendant spat in the back of the patrol van. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened at the defendant's address in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on March 17, 2021. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe defendant had been drinking what the article calls unusual alcohol at a barbecue. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe defendant was charged with assault, public intoxication, threatening and abusive behaviour, obstruction and criminal damage to a patrol van. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtTwo of the more serious matters from the same incident were dealt with in the Circuit Court in June. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defendant admitted assaults in the Circuit Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceIn the Circuit Court the defendant was given an 18-month sentence suspended for three years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant agreed to pay a total of €12,000 to the victims of the assaults. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceIn the District Court the defendant was sentenced to three months suspended for three years for the assaults on three gardaí. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge ordered the €800 the defendant had gathered to be donated to the Cara Curley Foundation. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe incident occurred during the Covid restrictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had no criminal record before the incident. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Oct2023
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Assaulted paramedic and four gardai in Portlaoise

    Court report on sentencing for the March 2021 incident. The Circuit Court sentence was handed down in June, and this article reports the District Court sentence. No existing case matches this incident.

    convicted, Rory Freeman, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Rory Freemanvictimvictimvictimvictimvictim