Friday 30 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. 14546Threatening or abusive behaviour and assault on a garda · Co. Laois · 1 Jan 2024

Man sentenced to community service over abusive behaviour and assault on garda in Portlaoise

On 1 January 2024, Jordan Byrne (25), a man, was accused of being intoxicated and abusing groups of women at Market Square, Portlaoise, and of assaulting a garda at Portlaoise Garda Station that day. He was arrested in Portlaoise at about 3am after being highly intoxicated and was charged with threatening and abusive behaviour and assaulting a garda. He appeared before Portlaoise District Court, where a positive probation report and the judge's view that he was suitable for community service were noted. Reports published on 16 and 17 February 2025 said Judge Susan Fay sentenced him to 100 hours of community service and a 12-month probation bond.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced12 Feb
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Jordan Byrne, a man aged 25, was accused of being intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour.
  • He allegedly verbally abused groups of women, calling them 'skinny holes'.
  • He was accused of assaulting a garda by striking the garda in the face.
Where
  • The threatening and abusive behaviour was alleged to have happened at Market Square, Portlaoise.
  • The assault on the garda was alleged to have happened at Portlaoise Garda Station.
When
The offences were alleged to have happened on 1 January 2024.
Cause
A solicitor said alcohol triggered the offending.
Investigation
Byrne was arrested in Portlaoise at about 3am after being highly intoxicated.
Charges
  • He was charged with being intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Market Square, Portlaoise.
  • He was also charged with assaulting a garda at Portlaoise Garda Station on the same day.
In court
  • He appeared before Portlaoise District Court, where his solicitor, Barry Fitzgerald, said he had returned to court with a positive probation report.
  • The judge noted he had been deemed suitable for community service and described the offence as serious.
Other details
  • Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said he had four previous convictions.
  • He had not come to garda attention since the incident and is working in a stoneyard.
Sentence
Judge Susan Fay sentenced him to 100 hours of community service and a 12-month probation bond, as reported on 16 and 17 February 2025.
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHe was verbally abusive to groups of women, calling them "skinny holes" and "fat c**ts". (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHe lashed out and struck a garda in the face at the garda station. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatJordan Byrne, 25, appeared before Portlaoise District Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatHe was verbally abusive to groups of women. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatHe struck a garda in the face at the garda station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe threatening and abusive behaviour happened at Market Square, Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereJordan Byrne lives at 21 Abbey Court, Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe abusive behaviour happened at Market Square, Portlaoise. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offences happened on 1 January 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offences were alleged to have happened on January 1, 2024. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeAlcohol triggered the offending. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeA solicitor said alcohol triggered the offending. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationJordan Byrne was arrested after being highly intoxicated in Portlaoise at 3am. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeJordan Byrne was accused of being intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeJordan Byrne was also accused of assaulting a garda at Portlaoise Garda Station on the same day. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe was accused of being intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe was also accused of assaulting a garda at Portlaoise Garda Station on the same day. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe solicitor said the defendant returned to court with a positive probation report. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge noted the defendant had been deemed suitable for community service. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtHis solicitor said he had returned to court with a positive probation report. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtHe had four previous convictions, according to Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge noted he had been deemed suitable for community service. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge described the offence as serious. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Fay sentenced him to 100 hours of community service and a 12-month probation bond. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and a 12-month probation bond. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had four previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted the offence was serious. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had not come to garda attention since the incident. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant is working in a stoneyard at the moment. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHe is working in a stoneyard. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Feb2025
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Community service for man in the Midlands who verbally abused women and assaulted garda

    Court report on sentencing. Judge Susan Fay imposed 100 hours of community service and a 12-month probation bond, and the court heard a positive probation report and that the defendant had four previous convictions.

    convicted, Jordan Byrne, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jordan Byrne
  2. 12 Feb2025
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Man called women ‘skinny holes’ before assaulting garda in Laois

    Court report of the sentencing: 100 hours of community service and a 12-month probation bond, a positive probation report, and four previous convictions for the defendant.

    convicted, Jordan Byrne, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jordan Byrnevictim