Sunday 1 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. 6940Assault · Co. Donegal · 23 Jan 2023

Sentencing adjourned for man convicted of assaulting Garda in Bundoran

Liam Ward, 44, of Westend, Bundoran, pleaded guilty at Donegal Circuit Court in December 2023 to two assaults on Garda Darren Norman, one at the Lidl supermarket in Bundoran on 23 January 2023 and one at Ballyshannon Garda Station on 29 December 2022. At the Lidl, Ward kicked Norman in the chest and put him in a headlock after Norman confronted him over a bag of alcohol, and Norman suffered back and facial injuries that forced him to take almost three months off duty. Ward was charged at Tubbercurry District Court on 25 January 2023 and bailed. Sentencing was adjourned pending a victim impact statement from Norman, with the judge indicating a suspended sentence element could be considered.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court16 Feb
  5. Convicted14 Dec
    2 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí were called to the Lidl supermarket in Bundoran after reports of a man drunk with a bag full of alcohol, and Garda Norman confronted Ward who denied having anything in the bag.
  • Ward kicked Garda Norman in the chest and put him in a headlock, squeezing his neck, and Norman used pepper spray before Ward released his grasp.
  • At Ballyshannon Garda Station, Ward punched Garda Norman in the face and lip.
  • Garda Norman suffered an injured back and facial damage and was forced to take almost three months off duty.
Where
The Lidl incident occurred at the Lidl supermarket in Bundoran, Co Donegal, and the second assault at Ballyshannon Garda Station.
When
The Lidl incident happened on 23 January 2023 and the Ballyshannon assault on 29 December 2022.
Charges
Ward is charged with assault causing harm under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and with being intoxicated in a public place.
In court
  • Ward appeared before Tubbercurry District Court on 25 January 2023 and was bailed.
  • Ward pleaded guilty to two assaults on Garda Norman at Donegal Circuit Court in December 2023.
Sentence
Sentencing was adjourned to receive a victim impact statement from Garda Norman, and the judge indicated a suspended sentence element could be considered.
Other details
  • Ward has 95 previous convictions for offences including assault, burglary, theft and public order.
  • Ward has been in custody since May 2023.
37 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatLiam Ward is aged 44 (donegallive.ie)
  • whatGarda Norman confronted Ward, who denied having anything in the bag. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatWard kicked Garda Norman in the chest and put him in a headlock. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGarda Norman was injured and forced to take almost three months off duty. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGarda Norman suffered an injured back and facial damage. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAt Ballyshannon Garda Station, Ward punched Garda Norman in the face and lip. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatWard kicked Garda Norman in the chest and put him in a headlock, squeezing his neck. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereLiam Ward's address is Westend, Bundoran (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened at the Lidl supermarket in Bundoran, Co Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred at the Lidl supermarket in Bundoran. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe Lidl incident happened on 23 January 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe Lidl incident occurred on 23 January 2023. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeGardaí were called to the store after reports of a man drunk with a bag full of alcohol. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeGardaí were called to the store after reports of a man being drunk with a bag full of alcohol. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationWard was handcuffed, placed in a Garda van and taken to Ballyshannon Garda Station. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe is charged with assault causing harm to Garda Darren Norman at Lidl, Bundoran, on 23 January 2023 (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe assault charge is under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997 (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe was also charged with being intoxicated in a public place at the same location on the same date (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeWard is charged with assaulting Garda Norman causing harm at Lidl, Bundoran, on 23 January 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeWard is also charged with being intoxicated in a public place at Lidl, Bundoran, on 23 January 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeWard is charged with assaulting Garda Norman causing harm at Ballyshannon Garda Station on 29 December 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeWard is charged with assaulting Garda Norman causing him harm at Lidl, Bundoran, on 23 January 2023. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeWard is also charged with being intoxicated in a public place at the Lidl on 23 January 2023. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeWard is charged with assaulting Garda Norman causing him harm at Ballyshannon Garda Station on 29 December 2022. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtLiam Ward appeared before Tubbercurry District Court on Wednesday 25 January 2023 (donegallive.ie)
  • courtEvidence of the arrest, charge and caution was given in court (donegallive.ie)
  • courtWard was bailed to appear before the court at a later date (donegallive.ie)
  • courtWard pleaded guilty to two assaults on Garda Darren Norman at Donegal Circuit Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtWard pleaded guilty to two assaults on Garda Darren Norman. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtWard has 95 previous convictions for a range of offences including assault. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtWard has been in custody since May 2023. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceSentencing was adjourned to receive a victim impact statement from Garda Norman. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said he could consider a suspended sentence element. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said a suspended sentence element could be included in his decision. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge adjourned sentencing until he receives a victim impact statement from Garda Norman. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherGarda Norman used pepper spray on Ward before Ward released his grasp. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherWard has 95 previous convictions for offences including assault, burglary, theft and public order. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 14 Dec2023
    Convicteddonegallive.ie, follow-up
    Sentencing adjourned for man who attacked guard at Bundoran supermarket

    Adds that Ward pleaded guilty to two assaults on Garda Norman, that sentencing was adjourned pending a victim impact statement, and that the judge indicated a suspended sentence element could be included. Also describes the 29 December 2022 Ballyshannon Garda Station assault.

    convicted, Liam Ward, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Wardvictim, Darren Norman, male, irish (judged from name)Darren Norman
  2. 14 Dec2023
    Convictedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Garda assaulted by drunk man who had backpack full of stolen alcohol from Lidl

    Guilty plea to two assaults on Garda Darren Norman at Donegal Circuit Court; sentencing adjourned for a victim impact statement. Also covers a second assault at Ballyshannon Garda Station on 29 December 2022.

    convicted, Liam Ward, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Wardvictim, Darren Norman, male, irish (judged from name)Darren Norman
  3. 16 Feb2023
    In courtdonegallive.ie, follow-up
    Man in court charged with assaulting Bundoran Garda

    Reports Liam Ward's first court appearance at Tubbercurry District Court where he was formally charged with assault causing harm under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and public order under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order Act) 1994, and bailed.

    victim, Darren Norman, male, irish (judged from name)Darren Normansuspect, Liam Ward, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Ward