Saturday 31 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. 20241Public order offence · Co. Laois · 26 Jun 2023

Two Laois footballers charged over Portlaoise public order incident

Gardaí were called to an argument outside premises on Lower Main Street, Portlaoise, shortly before 2am on 26 June 2023. Paddy O'Sullivan, 27, was arrested after gardaí found him intoxicated, and he and Robert Pigott, 26, both of Portarlington and both Laois footballers, were each charged with being abusive and intoxicated at Main Street. The two men appeared at Portlaoise District Court, reported on 21 July 2023, where they pleaded guilty and the judge indicated the charges would be struck out on payment of €500 to the court poor box. The latest report, dated 22 July 2023, confirms the court appearance and that the strike-out was conditional on that payment.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court21 Jul
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí were called to an argument outside premises on Lower Main Street in Portlaoise shortly before 2am.
Where
The incident took place on Main Street in Portlaoise.
When
The offence is alleged to have happened on 26 June 2023.
Cause
  • The incident followed the Laois team's Tailteann Cup defeat to Down.
  • A solicitor said the accused had gone out after the match and drunk too much.
Investigation
  • Gardaí found Paddy O'Sullivan intoxicated and arrested him.
  • Robert Pigott was described as Mr O'Sullivan's wingman that night.
Charges
Paddy O'Sullivan, 27, and Robert Pigott, 26, were each charged with being abusive and intoxicated at Main Street in Portlaoise.
In court
  • Both men appeared at Portlaoise District Court in a case reported on 21 July 2023.
  • The two men pleaded guilty, and the judge noted their remorse.
  • The accused wrote a letter of apology, brought €300 to court and had no previous convictions.
Sentence
No sentence was imposed; the judge said he would strike out the charges on condition €500 was paid to the court poor box.
Other details
  • Both men are footballers who play for Portarlington GAA club.
  • Reports of the court appearance were published on 21 and 22 July 2023.
22 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí were called to an argument outside premises on Lower Main Street shortly before 2am. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident was a public order incident in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe two men were charged with being abusive and intoxicated at Main Street in Portlaoise. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe men were charged over an incident on Main Street, Portlaoise, on June 26. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offence was alleged to have happened on June 26. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeThe incident followed the team's defeat to Down. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeA solicitor said the accused had gone out after the match and drunk too much. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found Mr O'Sullivan intoxicated and arrested him. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí were called to an argument outside a premises at Lower Main Street in Portlaoise shortly before 2am. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found Paddy O'Sullivan intoxicated and arrested him. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeBoth men were charged with being abusive and intoxicated. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said he would strike out the charges on condition €500 was paid to the court poor box. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe two men appeared in court over the public order incident in Portlaoise. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe accused pleaded guilty and the judge noted his remorse. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe men are Laois footballers who play for Portarlington GAA club. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe incident followed a Tailteann Cup match defeat to Down. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherMr Pigott was described as Mr O'Sullivan's wingman on the night. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe solicitor said the accused had gone out after the match and drunk too much. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused apologised, was described as remorseful, and had no previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused wrote a letter of apology and brought €300 to court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherRobert Pigott was described as the other accused's wingman that night. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused had no previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Jul2023
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Laois footballers in court over incident after Tailteann Cup defeat

    Reports the court appearance of two footballers charged over a public order incident in Portlaoise, the conditional strike-out order and the guilty plea and remorse noted by the judge. The existing Philip Meagher case (id 120) concerns a different matter; Meagher appears here only as a defence solicitor.

    accused, Paddy O'Sullivan, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paddy O'Sullivanaccused, Robert Pigott, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Pigott
  2. 21 Jul2023
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Laois Gaelic footballers in court over Portlaoise incident after Tailteann Cup GAA match

    First report of the court appearance of two men charged over the Portlaoise incident; the judge indicated the charges would be struck out on payment of €500.

    accused, Paddy O'Sullivan, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paddy O'Sullivanaccused, Robert Pigott, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Pigott