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. 20707Assault · Co. Offaly · 14 Sep 2022

Two men convicted over assaults in Birr family dispute

Two Birr men, Jason Maughan, 19, and Patrick O'Brien, were involved in two linked assaults during a family dispute in Birr, Co Offaly, on 14 and 22 September 2022. On 14 September 2022 on Main Street, Maughan punched O'Brien several times in the face, causing facial injuries. On 22 September at a Lidl on Tullamore Road, O'Brien assaulted Maughan, causing him harm, and was also charged with producing a carpet knife. Both men pleaded guilty at Tullamore Circuit Court, where O'Brien was sentenced to six months' imprisonment suspended for two years and Maughan was fined €400, as reported on 14 June 2023.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced14 Jun
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Jason Maughan punched Patrick O'Brien several times in the face, causing facial injuries.
  • Patrick O'Brien assaulted Jason Maughan, causing him harm, in a second incident.
When
  • The first assault took place on 14 September 2022.
  • The second assault took place on 22 September 2022.
Where
  • The first assault took place on Main Street, Birr.
  • The second assault took place at a Lidl on Tullamore Road, Birr, Co Offaly.
Cause
Maughan said he wanted to fight O'Brien because of tension between O'Brien and Maughan's father.
Weapon
O'Brien produced a carpet knife during the second incident, which the judge described as very dangerous when swung loosely.
Charges
O'Brien also pleaded guilty to, or was charged with, producing a carpet knife in a fight in a manner likely to intimidate another person.
In court
Both men pleaded guilty at Tullamore Circuit Court, reported on 14 June 2023, and the judge said it was very fortunate the knife did not connect with Maughan.
Sentence
  • O'Brien was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years.
  • Maughan was convicted and fined €400.
Other details
  • Maughan had no previous convictions and apologised for his behaviour.
  • O'Brien had 39 previous convictions, including public order offences and theft.
  • The defence said the two families are back on okay terms.
34 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo Birr men were convicted for assaults in a Birr dispute. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatJason Maughan crossed the road and punched Patrick O'Brien several times in the face. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatPatrick O'Brien suffered facial injuries when Jason Maughan punched him. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatJason Maughan pleaded guilty to assaulting Patrick O’Brien, causing him harm. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatMaughan punched O’Brien several times in the face. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatO’Brien suffered facial injuries. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatPatrick O'Brien pleaded guilty to assaulting Jason Maughan, causing him harm. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe assaults took place in Birr, Co Offaly. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe first assault happened on Main Street, Birr. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe second assault happened at a Lidl on Tullamore Road, Birr. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenJason Maughan pleaded guilty to assaulting Patrick O'Brien causing harm on 14 September 2022 on Main Street, Birr. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe first assault was on September 14, 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe second assault was on September 22, 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeJason Maughan said he wanted to fight Patrick O'Brien because of tension between Mr O'Brien and Mr Maughan's father. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeMaughan said he wanted to fight O’Brien because of tension between O’Brien and Maughan’s father. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe judge described the item as a carpet knife and said swinging it loosely was very dangerous. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponO’Brien was found to have produced a carpet knife during the second incident. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargePatrick O'Brien pleaded guilty to assaulting Jason Maughan causing harm on 22 September 2022 at Lidl, Tullamore Road, Birr. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargePatrick O'Brien was also charged with producing a carpet knife in a fight. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeO’Brien was also charged with producing a carpet knife in a manner likely to intimidate another person. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said it was very fortunate the knife did not connect with Jason Maughan. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said it was very fortunate the knife did not connect with Maughan. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said he was convicting and sentencing to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJason Maughan was convicted and fined €400. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceO’Brien was convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceMaughan was convicted and fined €400. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence said Jason Maughan had no previous convictions and was 19. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherJason Maughan apologised for his behaviour. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe court was told Patrick O'Brien had 39 previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe court was told the dispute broke out again about a week later at Lidl supermarket. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the two families are back on okay terms. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe dispute between the two families broke out again about a week later at a Lidl supermarket. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherMaughan had no previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherO’Brien had 39 previous convictions, including public order offences and theft. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 14 Jun2023
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Man who produced carpet knife Midlands Lidl shop row 'saw red'

    Court report of the sentencing for two linked assaults in a Birr family dispute, both dated September 2022. Adds the guilty pleas, the carpet knife charge, the sentences and the defence and judge's comments.

    convicted, Jason Maughan, 19, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Maughanconvicted, Patrick O'Brien, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick O'Brien
  2. 14 Jun2023
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Carpet knife produced during dispute in Offaly

    Court report on guilty pleas and sentences for two cross-assaults in the Birr dispute, on 14 and 22 September 2022, heard at Tullamore Circuit Court. No existing case covers this incident.

    convicted, Jason Maughan, 19, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Maughanconvicted, Patrick O'Brien, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick O'Brien