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. 14658Assault · Co. Donegal · 13 Mar 2021

Suspended sentence for man who assaulted Donegal garda

Michael Lynn, a 27-year-old man, assaulted Garda Liam O'Riordan, causing him harm, at Millstone Cottages, Milford, County Donegal, on 13 March 2021. Lynn was charged with assault causing harm under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. On 8 February 2025 he appeared before Letterkenny District Court by video link from Magilligan Prison, where he was already in custody, and was given a 10-month sentence wholly suspended for two years on condition that he keeps the peace and behaves well.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced8 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Michael Lynn assaulted Garda Liam O'Riordan, causing him harm.
Where
The assault happened at Millstone Cottages, Milford, County Donegal.
When
The assault happened on 13 March 2021.
Charges
Lynn was charged with assault causing harm under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
In court
  • Lynn appeared before Letterkenny District Court over the Milford incident.
  • Lynn appeared by video link from Magilligan Prison, where he was in custody.
Sentence
  • Lynn was given a 10-month prison sentence, with the entire sentence suspended for two years.
  • The suspended sentence is conditional on Lynn keeping the peace and behaving well during the suspension.
Other details
  • The judge described the offence as of the most serious nature and at the upper end of the jurisdiction.
  • A suspended sentence was considered only because Lynn was already serving a sentence and because of the State's position.
  • Lynn was already serving a sentence in Northern Ireland for a separate baseball bat attack in Derry.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe assault happened at Millstone Cottages, Milford. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe assault happened on 13 March 2021. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe charge was assault causing harm under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtLynn appeared before Letterkenny District Court over the Milford incident. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtLynn appeared by video link from Magilligan Prison, where he was in custody. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe court would impose a wholly suspended sentence if Lynn kept the peace and behaved well during the suspension. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceLynn was given a 10-month prison sentence, with the entire sentence suspended for two years. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe judge described the offence as of the most serious nature and at the upper end of the jurisdiction. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherA suspended sentence was considered only because Lynn was already serving a sentence and because of the State's position. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Feb2025
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Suspended sentence for man who attacked Donegal Garda

    Court report on a sentence for assaulting Garda Liam O’Riordan in Milford. Lynn was already serving a sentence in Northern Ireland for a separate baseball bat attack in Derry, which the article covers only as background.

    convicted, Michael Lynn, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Lynnvictim, Liam O'Riordan, irish (judged from name)Liam O'Riordan