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. 14654Affray · Co. Longford · 3 May 2023

Two women plead guilty to affray over car park altercation in Longford

On 3 May 2023, gardaí were called at 7:35pm to an alleged incident in a car park in Longford involving four women: Bernadette Keenan (45), Nicole Keenan (24), Winnie Ward (22) and Margaret Ward (25). All four were charged with affray and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour, and their case first came before Longford District Court in late 2024, when strict bail conditions were attached and the matter was adjourned to 28 January 2025. Winnie Ward and Margaret Ward later pleaded guilty before Judge Bernadette Owens. The latest reported development, in February 2025, is that they were each placed on a peace bond with a €250 cash lodgement to keep the peace for 18 months.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court29 Nov
    2 reports
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced8 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Four women were charged with affray and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour over an alleged incident, though one report says two women were charged.
Where
The alleged incident took place at Longford Shopping Centre car park, though one report says it was the car park of the Tesco supermarket.
When
The alleged incident took place on 3 May 2023, and officers were called at 7:35pm.
Cause
The matter reportedly arose from tensions between two families.
Weapon
No weapons were alleged to have been used.
Investigation
Participants were identified after gardaí viewed CCTV of the alleged fight, and video of the incident was widely shared online at the time.
In court
  • The women made no reply when the charges were put to them, and strict bail conditions were attached, including a 11pm to 8am curfew, signing on three times a week at Longford Garda station, and a ban on uploading videos and call-outs to social media.
  • The Keenan women and the Ward women were each ordered to have no contact with the other family.
  • The matter was adjourned to 28 January 2025 for facts and penalty or a hearing date, and solicitors for the Keenan women gave differing positions, one saying the clients would contest the claims and the other saying her clients would plead guilty.
  • Winnie Ward and Margaret Ward pleaded guilty, through their solicitor, before Judge Bernadette Owens.
Sentence
Winnie Ward and Margaret Ward were each placed on a peace bond with a €250 cash lodgement to keep the peace for 18 months.
Other details
  • Margaret Ward had four previous convictions, three for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour, and Winnie Ward had one previous conviction for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour.
  • Gardaí confirmed there were no further incidents between the parties.
33 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFour women were charged with affray and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatFour women were charged with affray. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe charges relate to an incident at Longford Shopping Centre car park. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Longford Shopping Centre car park. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereGardaí were called to the car park of the Tesco supermarket. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 3 May 2023. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on May 3, 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenOfficers were called at 7:35pm. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeThe matter arose from tensions between two families. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponNo weapons were alleged to have been used. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationVideo footage of the alleged incident was widely shared online at the time. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationParticipants were identified after gardaí viewed CCTV of the fight. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe four defendants were charged with affray and with engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe two defendants were charged with affray and with engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe women made no reply when the charges were put to them. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtStrict bail conditions were attached when the matter first came before the court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtNicole and Bernadette Keenan were ordered to have no contact with the Ward family. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtWinnie and Margaret Ward were directed to have no contact with the Keenan family. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe Keenans' solicitor said his clients would contest the claims against them. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtA second solicitor said her clients would enter a guilty plea and wanted the matter concluded. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Bernadette Owens adjourned the matter to 28 January 2025 for facts and penalty or a hearing date. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtStrict bail conditions were attached, including orders to refrain from uploading videos and call outs on social media. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defendants were ordered to obey an 11pm to 8am curfew and to sign on three times a week at Longford Garda station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtA solicitor for the Keenans said his clients would contest the claims against them. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtA solicitor said her clients were entering a plea of guilty and wanted the matter concluded. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned to 28 January 2025 for facts and penalty or a hearing date. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard before Judge Bernadette Owens. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtBoth women pleaded guilty, through their solicitor. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceBoth women were placed on a peace bond with a €250 cash lodgement to keep the peace for 18 months. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherVideo footage of the incident was widely shared online at the time. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherMargaret Ward had four previous convictions, three for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherWinnie Ward had one previous conviction for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherGardaí confirmed there were no further incidents between the parties. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Feb2025
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Two women in court after altercation that boiled over in car park in the Midlands

    Court report on the disposal of the case: guilty pleas, peace bond with €250 cash lodgement for 18 months. Reports the incident took place in a Longford car park, with conflicting references to the Longford Shopping Centre and the Tesco car park.

    convicted, Winnie Ward, 22, female, named, irish (judged from name)Winnie Wardconvicted, Margaret Ward, 25, female, named, irish (judged from name)Margaret Ward
  2. 4 Dec2024
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Four women charged with affray in shopping centre car park in the Midlands appear in court

    Adds that four women, not two, were charged, names the four defendants and their addresses and ages, reports the bail conditions and the adjournment to 28 January 2025, and reports conflicting solicitor statements about whether the Keenan women would contest the charges or plead guilty.

    accused, Bernadette Keenan, 45, female, named, irish (judged from name)Bernadette Keenanaccused, Nicole Keenan, 24, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nicole Keenanaccused, Winnie Ward, 22, female, named, irish (judged from name)Winnie Wardaccused, Margaret Ward, 25, female, named, irish (judged from name)Margaret Ward
  3. 29 Nov2024
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Four women charged with affray appear before Longford district court

    Reports the defendants' District Court appearance, the bail conditions, the no-contact orders, and the adjournment to 28 January 2025. The two Keenan women's solicitors gave different positions on plea: one said the clients would contest the claims, the other said her clients would plead guilty.

    accused, Bernadette Keenan, 45, female, named, irish (judged from name)Bernadette Keenanaccused, Nicole Keenan, 24, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nicole Keenanaccused, Winnie Ward, 22, female, named, irish (judged from name)Winnie Wardaccused, Margaret Ward, 25, female, named, irish (judged from name)Margaret Ward