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. 22303Assault causing harm (on a garda) · Co. Cork · 7 Nov 2022

Simon Quilligan jailed for four years for assault on Garda Ken O'Brien in Cork

Simon Quilligan, 31, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment (with nine months suspended) at Cork Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting Garda Ken O'Brien on 7 November 2022 at a hostel on Anglesea Terrace, Co Cork, when the garda went to arrest him on foot of a bench warrant.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced20 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSimon Quilligan, 31, of no fixed abode, was the defendant. (rte.ie)
  • whatGarda O'Brien went to the hostel to arrest Quilligan on foot of a bench warrant. (rte.ie)
  • whatQuilligan was grinding his teeth and foaming at the mouth when he started attacking the garda. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe garda sustained scrawl wounds on his hands and face. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe arrest of Quilligan required the involvement of eight gardaí. (rte.ie)
  • whatQuilligan was known to be violent and unpredictable. (rte.ie)
  • whatQuilligan had drug addiction problems. (rte.ie)
  • whatQuilligan had previous convictions for assault and assault causing harm. (rte.ie)
  • whatQuilligan had a previous conviction for assaulting a police officer. (rte.ie)
  • whatQuilligan had a conviction for obstructing a police officer. (rte.ie)
  • whatQuilligan had four convictions for failing to comply with directions from an officer. (rte.ie)
  • whatQuilligan initially got in the back of the patrol car and was not handcuffed as he seemed reasonable. (rte.ie)
  • whatQuilligan became extremely aggressive, shouting and roaring at Garda O'Brien while trying to open the car door. (rte.ie)
  • whatQuilligan wound down the window and tried to escape through it. (rte.ie)
  • whatQuilligan kept swinging his fists striking the garda on the face and body. (rte.ie)
  • whatDeploying an incapacitant spray had no effect on Quilligan. (rte.ie)
  • whatGarda O'Brien was diagnosed with concussion in the aftermath of the attack. (rte.ie)
  • whatGarda O'Brien now suffers from extremely frequent and severe headaches and migraine and attends a consultant neurologist. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe attack took place at a hostel on Anglesea Terrace, Co Cork. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe attack on Garda O'Brien occurred on 7 November 2022. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Feb2023
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Man jailed for four years for attack on garda

    Reports the sentencing hearing, including details of the attack, the garda's victim impact statement describing concussion and ongoing neurological symptoms, the judge's remarks, and Quilligan's guilty plea and subsequent middle-finger gesture.

    victim, Ken O'Brien, male, irish (judged from name)Ken O'Brienconvicted, Simon Quilligan, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Simon Quilligan