Wednesday 28 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. 1568Assault (assault on a Garda, spitting blood in face of a Garda) · Co. Donegal · 12 Jun 2024

Rodney Bonnes jailed for 15 months for headbutting and spitting blood in face of Garda in Buncrana

Rodney Bonnes, 40, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment at Letterkenny Circuit Court for headbutting Garda Kenneth Merritt and spitting blood in his face in the lobby of the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana, Co Donegal, on 12 June 2024. He was ordered to leave the jurisdiction within one week of release and not return for five years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBonnes headbutted Garda Kenneth Merritt in the face (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBonnes spat blood in the face of Garda Merritt (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBonnes shouted at the Garda after spitting (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBonnes was 40 years old (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBonnes had been off alcohol for five years before the incident (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBonnes fell out with his then girlfriend in the hotel (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe hotel room was littered with empty Guinness cans (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBonnes has 99 previous convictions (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBonnes has 21 convictions for assaults on police officers in Northern Ireland (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAfter arrest, Bonnes told Gardai to 'f*** off' (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGarda Merritt underwent blood tests for six weeks after the assault (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGarda Merritt was passed clear from the blood tests (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBonnes was sexually abused as a child (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBonnes was under threat from loyalists and forced to move to England (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBonnes suffered PTSD after being beaten by loyalists (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereBonnes grew up in Ballyclare, Co Antrim (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 12 June 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtCCTV footage of the assault was shown in court (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtGarda Merritt declined to make a victim impact statement (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Jun2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Notorious criminal headbutted Garda and spat blood in his face in hotel

    Reports the sentencing of Rodney Bonnes to 15 months (three years reduced by one third to two years, nine months suspended) for assaulting Garda Kenneth Merritt at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana. The sentence was backdated and he was ordered to leave the jurisdiction for five years.

    convicted, Rodney Bonnes, 40, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Rodney Bonnesvictim, Kenneth Merritt, male, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Merritt