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. 17579Assault on a garda · Co. Donegal · 13 Feb 2022

Suspended sentence for Donegal man who punched garda in Porthall

On 13 February 2022 at about 7.25am, at his home in Hollybush Park, Porthall, Co Donegal, 22-year-old Jake McNulty pushed Garda Robert Kearney and punched him in the face. McNulty was arrested, taken to Letterkenny Garda Station and charged with assaulting a garda. He appeared before Judge Éiteáin Cunningham at Letterkenny District Court, where he was convicted and sentenced to four months' imprisonment, with the entire sentence suspended for 12 months. The sentence was reported on 17 April 2024, which is the latest development.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced16 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Jake McNulty, 22, was given a suspended four-month prison sentence after an incident in which he struck Garda Robert Kearney.
  • McNulty pushed Garda Kearney and then punched him with a closed fist to the side of the face.
Where
The incident happened at McNulty's home in Hollybush Park, Porthall, Co Donegal.
When
The incident happened at 7.25am on 13 February 2022.
Cause
Sources say McNulty became aggressive, threatening and dismissive towards Garda Kearney while the garda was speaking to him.
Investigation
McNulty was arrested and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station.
Charges
  • McNulty was charged with assaulting a garda.
  • McNulty was also charged with a separate public order incident in which he became threatening to staff at Letterkenny University Hospital, and the judge marked this as taken into consideration.
In court
McNulty appeared before Judge Éiteáin Cunningham at Letterkenny District Court, as reported on 17 April 2024.
Sentence
McNulty was convicted and sentenced to four months' imprisonment for assaulting the garda, and the judge suspended the entire sentence for 12 months.
Other details
  • Garda Kearney suffered swelling, bruising and slight cuts near his left ear that drew blood, and did not require medical attention.
  • No victim impact statement was tendered.
  • The court was told McNulty had no previous convictions.
  • His solicitor said McNulty had suffered from substance misuse and dependency.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJake McNulty was given a suspended four-month prison sentence following an incident that saw him strike Garda Robert Kearney. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatMcNulty pushed Garda Kearney and then punched him with a closed fist to the side of the face. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened at McNulty's home in Hollybush Park, Porthall. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened at 7.25am on 13 February 2022. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeMcNulty became aggressive, threatening and dismissive towards Garda Kearney. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationMcNulty was arrested and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtMcNulty appeared before Judge Éiteáin Cunningham at Letterkenny District Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceMcNulty was convicted and sentenced to four months imprisonment for assaulting the garda. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge suspended the entire sentence for 12 months. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherGarda Kearney suffered swelling, bruising and slight cuts near his left ear that drew blood. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherGarda Kearney did not require medical attention and no victim impact statement was tendered. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe court was told McNulty had no previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherHis solicitor said McNulty had suffered from substance misuse and dependency. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe hospital incident was marked as taken into consideration by the judge. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Apr2024
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Suspended sentence for Donegal man who punched garda

    Reports the Letterkenny District Court sentence of a suspended four-month term for assaulting a garda, with a hospital public order incident taken into consideration. Dated 2022 in the article.

    convicted, Jake McNulty, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jake McNultyvictim, Robert Kearney, irish (judged from name)Robert Kearney