Sunday 1 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. 20756Assault · Co. Longford · 13 May 2021

Man sentenced to community service after probation breach on Longford assault

Hughie Nevin, 42, of Grian Ard, Ardnacassa, Longford, was found guilty by a jury at Longford Circuit Court in June 2023 of assaulting Gerry Forde at 24 Canal Court, Longford, on 13 May 2021. Nevin was arrested the night after the incident and charged the following morning; a medical report recorded three lacerations to Forde's head. Forde, originally from Mullingar, died in December 2021 of causes unrelated to the assault. In October 2026, after Nevin failed to engage with probation services, Judge Kenneth Connolly reactivated the six-month suspended portion of his sentence and substituted it with 150 hours of community service.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A jury at Longford Circuit Court found Hughie Nevin guilty of assaulting Gerry Forde.
Where
The assault took place at 24 Canal Court, Longford.
When
The assault took place on 13 May 2021.
Cause
Nevin said Forde hit him with a crutch, and he then hit Forde on the head.
Weapon
A crutch was used in the assault.
Investigation
Gardaí arrested Nevin the night after the assault.
Charges
Nevin was charged with assault the morning after his interview.
In court
Judge Kenneth Connolly presided over the trial at Longford Circuit Court, where the jury returned a guilty verdict after a short deliberation.
Sentence
  • In June 2023, the judge set a headline sentence of two years and nine months, with the last six months suspended, resulting in two years and three months in prison.
  • In October 2026, after Nevin failed to engage with probation services, Judge Connolly reactivated the six-month suspended term and substituted it with 150 hours of community service.
Other details
  • A medical report recorded three lacerations to Forde's head, and gardaí said he was bleeding heavily when they arrived.
  • Forde, originally from Mullingar, died in December 2021 of causes unrelated to the assault.
  • The judge noted Nevin had 66 previous convictions.
34 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA jury at Longford Circuit Court found Hughie Nevin guilty of assaulting Gerry Forde. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatA medical report recorded three lacerations to Gerry Forde's head. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe assault took place at 24 Canal Court, Longford. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe assault took place on 13 May 2021. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe assault took place on 13 May 2021 at 24 Canal Court, Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeNevin said Gerry Forde hit him with a crutch, and he then hit Forde on the head. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponA crutch was used in the assault. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested Nevin the night after the assault. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested Hughie Nevin the night after the assault. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeNevin was charged with the assault the morning after his interview. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeNevin was charged with assault the morning after his interview. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtA jury found Nevin guilty of assaulting Gerry Forde at Longford Circuit Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe jury returned a guilty verdict after a short deliberation. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtHughie Nevin of Grian Ard, Ardnacassa, Longford appeared in Longford Circuit Court in relation to the 2021 assault. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Kenneth Connolly presided over the hearing. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtCounsel Andrea Callan BL addressed the court on Nevin's behalf. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of two years and nine months for the charge. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceMitigation allowed the judge to suspend the last six months of the sentence. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceNevin was sentenced to two years and three months in prison. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of two years and nine months, with the last six months suspended. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of two years and nine months in June 2023, with the last six months suspended. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceNevin's release date for the assault matter was 8 September 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceAfter the assault sentence, Nevin commenced a further sentence of four years with 18 months suspended for demanding money with menaces. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe 18-month suspended sentence for the separate offence commenced on 16 July 2026. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Connolly substituted the six-month imprisonment with 150 hours of community service. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherGarda evidence said Forde was bleeding heavily from a cut to his head when gardaí arrived. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherNevin admitted hitting Forde but said Forde had hit him first with a crutch. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted Nevin had 66 previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherGardaí said Forde's death in December 2021 was unrelated to the assault. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherNevin had 66 previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe victim died in December 2021, and the article says his death was unrelated to the assault. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe victim of the 2021 assault is now deceased. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherNevin failed to engage with probation services, triggering the reactivation of the six-month suspended sentence. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe decision was based on a report from probation officer Ann Marie Jones and Nevin's consent. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Oct2026
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Longford man up for assault gets 150 hours community service after probation breach

    Reports the probation breach on the 2021 assault sentence and Judge Connolly's decision to substitute the reactivated six-month suspended term with 150 hours of community service, noting the victim is now deceased and that Nevin is also serving a separate sentence for demanding money with menaces.

    convicted, Hughie Nevin, male, named, irish (judged from name)Hughie Nevinvictim
  2. 12 Jun2023
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, its first report
    Man who left victim bleeding following late night attack in own home in the Midlands is jailed

    Reports the jury verdict and sentence in Hughie Nevin's Longford Circuit Court trial for the 2021 assault on Gerry Forde. The victim died in December 2021 of causes the article says were unrelated to the assault. Not the same incident as the other Hughie Nevin cases in the list (Portlaoise 2021 and Longford 2023).

    convicted, Hughie Nevin, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Hughie Nevinvictim, Gerry Forde, male, irish (judged from name)Gerry Forde
  3. 7 Jun2023
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Longford man who left victim bleeding following late night attack in own home is jailed

    Reports the jury verdict of guilty, the sentence of two years and three months with the last six months suspended, the judge's headline sentence, Nevin's 66 previous convictions, and the garda evidence that the victim's death in December 2021 was unrelated to the assault.

    victim, Gerry Forde, male, irish (judged from name)Gerry Fordeconvicted, Hughie Nevin, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Hughie Nevin