Ireland Case No. 17438Assault · Co. Laois · 30 May 2022
Two men sentenced for assaulting referee at Portarlington GAA club
On 30 May 2022, referee Michael Tarpey was assaulted at Portarlington GAA Club in Laois during a minor development league match after a melee broke out following a decision. Evin Bennett, 54, of Portarlington, and a teenager, who was 17 at the time, were found guilty of assault at Portlaoise District Court in April 2024. Bennett was ordered to pay €8,000 compensation and bound to the peace for 24 months, while the teenager was bound to the peace for 24 months and ordered to pay €5,000. Bennett lodged an appeal shortly after sentencing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court24 Mar
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced23 Apr
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A melee broke out at a minor development league GAA match after referee Michael Tarpey made a decision, and he was accosted by both accused.
- Where
- The assault took place at Portarlington GAA Club in Laois.
- When
- The assault occurred on 30 May 2022.
- Cause
- 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
- Evin Bennett, 53, first appeared at Portlaoise District Court on 24 March 2023 with a co-accused juvenile, and the case was remanded for mention on 16 June 2023.
- Both men were found guilty of assaulting referee Michael Tarpey at Portlaoise District Court in April 2024.
- Sentence
- Bennett was ordered to pay €8,000 compensation by 1 September 2024 and was given the Probation Act and bound to the peace for 24 months.
- The teenager, 19 at sentencing but 17 at the time of the incident, was bound to the peace for 24 months and ordered to pay €5,000 by 1 September 2024.
- Other details
- The referee suffered a bruised lower lip and head and neck pain, was off work for ten days, and his lanyard and attire were damaged at a cost of €135.
- Bennett lodged an appeal shortly after being sentenced at Portlaoise District Court.
42 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)
- whereHis address is Ship House, Portlaoise Road, Portarlington (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe assault happened at Portarlington GAA Club. (leinsterexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe assault took place at Portarlington GAA Club. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe assault occurred on 30 May 2022 (leinsterexpress.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)
- investigationCCTV footage exists in relation to the matter (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe matter was referred to GSOC. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationThe incident was captured on CCTV. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtEvin Bennett, 53, appeared in court accused of assault at Portarlington GAA Club (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThere is a co-accused in the case who is a juvenile (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe State Solicitor in Tipperary was looking after the case (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtJudge Cody ordered disclosure within four weeks (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe case was remanded to Portlaoise District Court on 16 June for mention (leinsterexpress.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- 27 Apr2024Two 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 - 27 Apr2024Two 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 - 23 Apr2024Pair 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 - 24 Mar2023Man in court accused of assault at Portarlington GAA club
First court appearance; co-accused juvenile confirmed; CCTV footage noted; disclosure ordered within four weeks; case remanded to 16 June 2023 for mention.
accused, Evin Bennett, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Evin Bennettaccused