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. 13830Assault on a garda · Co. Donegal · 23 Aug 2023

Nikita Burns sentenced over assault on garda at Ballyshannon Garda Station

On 23 August 2023 at Ballyshannon Garda Station in Donegal, Nikita Burns, a 23-year-old woman, punched Garda Declan O'Brien. Burns admitted assaulting him and also pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on the same occasion. She was already serving sentences for murder and for assaulting another garda when the case was heard. On 2 May 2025 Ballyshannon District Court imposed four months for the assault and one month for the behaviour offence, to run concurrently with her existing sentence, as reported on 5 May 2025.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced5 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Burns punched Garda Declan O'Brien, and she admitted assaulting him.
Where
The assault took place at Ballyshannon Garda Station in County Donegal.
When
The assault happened on 23 August 2023.
Charges
Burns admitted the assault and also pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on the same occasion.
Other details
  • Burns, 23, has an address listed as no fixed abode.
  • Burns had no previous convictions when the offence occurred.
  • The court sought a probation report, which was available at the sitting.
  • Burns is already serving sentences for murder and for assaulting another garda; one source describes the second offence as attempting to eye-gouge a garda in Letterkenny.
In court
Burns appeared before Ballyshannon District Court on Friday, 2 May 2025, accompanied by prison officers.
Sentence
  • The judge imposed four months' imprisonment for the assault on Garda O'Brien.
  • The judge imposed one month for threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, to run concurrently with her existing sentence.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe court heard that Burns punched the garda. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe assault happened at Ballyshannon Garda Station. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe assault on Garda Declan O’Brien happened on 23 August 2023. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeBurns admitted assaulting Garda Declan O’Brien. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeBurns also pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on the same occasion. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtBurns appeared before Ballyshannon District Court on Friday, May 2. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed a four-month prison sentence for the assault on Garda O’Brien. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge gave a one-month sentence for threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, to run concurrently with her existing sentence. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherBurns had no previous convictions at the time the offence occurred. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherA probation report was sought by the court and was available at the sitting on May 2. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherBurns is already serving sentences for murder and for assaulting another garda. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 May2025
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Sliabh Liag murderer Nikita Burns jailed for punching garda in Ballyshannon

    Reports the Ballyshannon District Court sentencing on 2 May 2025 for the August 2023 assault on Garda Declan O’Brien. Also repeats background on the separate Letterkenny assault sentences, which are already recorded in case 1773.

    convicted, Nikita Burns, 23, female, namedNikita Burnsvictim, Declan O'Brien, irish (judged from name)Declan O'Brien