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. 16791Assault · Co. Laois · 23 Apr 2023

Naas man fined €500 for headbutting footballer at Portarlington pitch

On 23 April 2023 a man, David Macmahon, 46, of Naas, Co Kildare, headbutted a football player during a match at Arlington FC in Portarlington, Co Laois, and was later convicted of assault. He was ordered to pay €3,000 compensation, handed over €1,000 at a court hearing in May, and in June 2024 the remainder was paid, which Garda Paul Dooley confirmed. He did not wait for his case to be called and was remanded on bail to Portlaoise District Court on 27 June. The latest reported development is that he was convicted and fined €500 at Portlaoise District Court, after apologising in court.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court14 Jun
    2 reports
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced28 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man was convicted of assaulting a football player during a match in Laois.
  • The man is reported to have headbutted the soccer player.
Where
The assault took place at Arlington FC in Portarlington, Co Laois, on a football pitch.
When
The assault happened on 23 April 2023.
Other details
  • The reports give the man's age as 46 and his address as Naas, Co Kildare, and do not state his nationality.
  • Judge Cody described the offence as a serious assault carried out on a football pitch.
  • The man apologised in court and said he had not meant any disrespect, and said he was employed in healthcare.
  • The sentencing report is dated 28 June 2024 in the article metadata and 7 July 2024 in the article text.
Sentence
  • He was ordered to pay €3,000 in compensation and handed over €1,000 at a court hearing in May.
  • He was convicted and fined €500.
Investigation
Garda Paul Dooley confirmed the remaining compensation had been handed in.
In court
  • The remainder of the compensation was paid in June 2024 and handed over to the injured party; one report says the week before its publication, another says two weeks before court.
  • The man was not present when his case was called at Portlaoise District Court, and Judge Andrew Cody ordered that he be brought back before the court.
  • He was remanded on bail to appear at Portlaoise District Court on 27 June.
  • Judge Andrew Cody was told the compensation had been paid in full and said he had not indicated he would strike the case out on payment.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man paid the remainder of his compensation for assaulting a football player during a match in Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe man headbutted a soccer player. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe assault happened at Arlington FC in Portarlington. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe assault took place on a football pitch in Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe assault happened on April 23, 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe assault happened on 23 April 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGarda Paul Dooley confirmed the remainder had since been handed in. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe compensation was handed over to the injured party. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge noted the man was not present when the case was called. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the case was serious enough and he would not strike it out. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe man was remanded on bail to appear at Portlaoise District Court on June 27. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the case was serious enough and he did not say he would strike it out. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defendant was remanded on bail to appear at Portlaoise District Court on 27 June. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defendant failed to wait for his case to be called. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Andrew Cody was told the compensation had been paid in full. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge ordered the defendant to be brought back before the court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceHe was ordered to pay €3,000. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceHe handed over €1,000 at a court hearing in May. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceGardaí confirmed the remaining compensation had been handed in. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceHe was ordered to pay €3,000 in compensation. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceHe handed over €1,000 at a court hearing last May. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceHe paid the remainder of the compensation the week before the article. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was convicted and fined €500. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had paid the remaining €3,000 in compensation two weeks before court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant apologised and said he had not meant any disrespect. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant said he was employed in healthcare. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge described the offence as a serious assault carried out on a football pitch. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Jun2024
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Man apologises for leaving Laois court before case for assaulting a footballer was called

    Court report on the sentencing. The article says the assault occurred on a football pitch in Laois in 2023, and it reports the compensation payment, the apology for missing the hearing, the €500 fine and the judge's comments. It is dated 7 July 2024 in the article text.

    convicted, David Macmahon, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Macmahonvictim
  2. 18 Jun2024
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Compensation paid in football assault case in the Midlands

    Adds that the remaining compensation was paid, that the judge noted Macmahon was not present when the case was called, and that he was remanded on bail to 27 June 2024.

    accused, David Macmahon, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Macmahonvictim
  3. 14 Jun2024
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Compensation paid in Laois football assault case

    Reports that the remaining compensation was paid, that the man was not present when the case was called, and that he was remanded on bail to June 27.

    convicted, David Macmahon, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Macmahonvictim