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. 17438Assault · Co. Laois · 30 May 2022

Two men sentenced for assault on referee at Portarlington GAA match

Evin Bennett, 54, and a 19-year-old man, who was 17 at the time, were found guilty of assaulting referee Michael Tarpey at Portarlington GAA Club, Laois, on May 30, 2022, during a minor development league match, after a melee broke out following a decision Tarpey made. The incident was captured on CCTV and referred to GSOC. The pair were sentenced at Portlaoise District Court, with the sentencing reported on April 26, 2024: Bennett was given the Probation Act and ordered to pay the referee €8,000 compensation, and the teenager was ordered to pay €5,000, both bound to the peace for 24 months. Bennett lodged an appeal shortly after being sentenced, which is the latest development reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced23 Apr
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Evin Bennett, 54, and a 19-year-old man, who was 17 at the time, were found guilty of assaulting referee Michael Tarpey.
Where
The assault happened at Portarlington GAA Club in Laois.
When
The assault happened on May 30, 2022, during a minor development league match.
Cause
  • A melee broke out after the referee made a decision in the game.
  • The defence said Bennett headbutted the referee before a scuffle broke out on the pitch.
Investigation
The incident was captured on CCTV and the matter was referred to GSOC.
In court
  • Bennett contested the case but cooperated with gardaí, according to the defence.
  • Sentencing took place at Portlaoise District Court before Judge Andrews, and both men were convicted of assault.
  • Bennett lodged an appeal shortly after being sentenced.
Sentence
  • Bennett was given the Probation Act, bound to the peace for 24 months, and ordered to pay the referee €8,000 compensation by September 1, 2024.
  • The teenager was bound to the peace for 24 months and ordered to pay €5,000, with sources differing on whether the payment was due by September 1.
Other details
  • The referee suffered mild injuries, including a bruised lower lip and head and neck pain, and attended the emergency department with medical bills of €220.
  • The referee's lanyard and attire were damaged, costing €135, and he was off work for ten days and refereed no games for the rest of 2022.
34 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe referee was volunteering at a minor development league match when a melee occurred after he made a decision. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatTwo men were found guilty of assaulting referee Michael Tarpey. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatA man and a teenager were sentenced for assaulting a referee. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatBoth men were found guilty of assaulting the referee, Michael Tarpey. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe assault happened at Portarlington GAA Club. (leinsterexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe assault took place at Portarlington GAA Club. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe assault happened on May 30, 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • causeThe defence said Bennett headbutted the referee before a scuffle broke out on the pitch. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeA melee broke out after the referee made a decision in the game. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeThe melee started after the referee made a decision in the game. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe matter was referred to GSOC. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe incident was captured on CCTV. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtBennett contested the case but cooperated with gardaí, according to the defence. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said both men had been convicted of assault. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtBennett lodged an appeal shortly after being sentenced at Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Andrews said both men had been convicted of assault. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe sentencing took place at Portlaoise District Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceBennett was ordered to pay €8,000 compensation to the referee on or before September 1, 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceBennett was given the Probation Act and bound to the peace for 24 months. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe teenager was bound to the peace for 24 months and ordered to pay €5,000 on or before September 1. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceBennett was ordered to pay €8,000 compensation to the referee by September 1, 2024. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe teenager was bound to the peace for 24 months and ordered to pay €5,000 by September 1. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe teenager was bound to the peace for 24 months and ordered to pay €5,000. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe referee suffered mild injuries. (leinsterexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe referee's lanyard and attire were damaged, costing a total of €135. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe referee attended the emergency department and his medical bills amounted to €220. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe referee suffered a bruised lower lip and head and neck pain. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe referee was off work for ten days after the assault. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe referee did not referee any games for the rest of 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe referee suffered some mild injuries. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe referee suffered a bruised lower lip and head and neck pain and was off work for ten days. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe referee's lanyard and attire were damaged, with costs totalling €135. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherBennett lodged an appeal shortly after being sentenced. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge said both men have now been convicted of assault. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Apr2024
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Two men sentenced for assaulting referee at GAA match in the Midlands

    Reports the sentencing of two men for the assault on the referee, the compensation and peace-bond orders, and that Bennett has lodged an appeal.

    convicted, Evin Bennett, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Evin Bennettconvicted, 19, malevictim, Michael Tarpey, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Tarpey
  2. 27 Apr2024
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Two men sentenced for assaulting referee at GAA match in the Midlands

    First report of the sentencing of two men for assaulting a referee at a minor development league GAA match. No earlier case in the list covers this incident.

    convicted, Evin Bennett, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Evin Bennettconvicted, 19, malevictim, Michael Tarpey, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Tarpey
  3. 23 Apr2024
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Pair sentenced for assaulting referee at Laois GAA match

    Court report on sentencing. Adds the men's ages and addresses, the referee's injuries and losses, the defence account, the compensation and probation orders, and the appeal lodged by Bennett. It names the teenager's age at sentencing and that he was 17 at the time.

    victim, Michael Tarpey, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Tarpeyconvicted, Evin Bennett, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Evin Bennettconvicted, 19, male