Thursday 5 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. 30033Public order (threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour) · Co. Louth · 28 Aug 2021

Public order charge struck out at Dundalk District Court

Colm Eccles, 18, of Slievebane Road, Omagh, was charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour after giving a middle finger to a Garda driving behind the bus he was travelling in to Croke Park on 28 August 2021 at Northern Cross, Mell, Louth. He was arrested for a public order offence and initially denied the gesture, claiming he made it to a friend. The case was heard at Dundalk District Court, where Judge Eirinn McKiernan accepted a €200 donation to Turas Counselling Service and struck out the charge.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced18 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Colm Eccles, 18, of Slievebane Road, Omagh, was charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Northern Cross, Mell, on 28 August 2021.
  • He gave a middle finger to a Garda driving behind the bus he was travelling in to Croke Park.
  • He initially denied the gesture and claimed he made it to a friend.
  • He was told he had too much drink taken.
  • He missed seeing Tyrone beat Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final.
  • He is due to start a civil engineering course at the University of Ulster.
Investigation
He was arrested for a public order offence.
In court
The case was heard at Dundalk District Court.
Sentence
Judge Eirinn McKiernan accepted a €200 donation to Turas Counselling Service and struck out the case.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatColm Eccles, 18, of Slievebane Road, Omagh, was charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Northern Cross, Mell, on 28 August 2021 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe gave a middle finger to a Garda driving behind the bus he was travelling in to Croke Park (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe was arrested for a public order offence (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe missed seeing Tyrone beat Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe initially denied the gesture and claimed he made it to a friend (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe was told he had too much drink taken (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe is due to start a civil engineering course at the University of Ulster (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dundalk District Court (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Eirinn McKiernan accepted a €200 donation to Turas Counselling Service and struck out the case (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Sep2021
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Dundalk court: Man missed All-Ireland semi-final after giving single digit salute to garda

    Reports the court outcome: charge struck out with a €200 donation to Turas Counselling Service; judge warned the defendant about the employment consequences of a conviction.

    accused, Colm Eccles, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)Colm Eccles