Wednesday 28 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. 5575Assault causing harm · Co. Westmeath · 24 Feb 2019

Westmeath footballer sentenced for assault causing harm in 2019 club match

On 24 February 2019, during an away challenge match against Maryland, footballer Tom Molloy, a 26-year-old man from Shandonagh, allegedly assaulted Maryland wing forward Liam Reilly, a man, fracturing his eye socket and leaving him with impaired vision. Molloy pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, where the judge set a headline sentence of four years and reduced it to two years and six months, suspended on conditions. He was ordered to pay €20,000 to the victim within 12 months. The latest development, reported on 28 June 2024, is the suspended sentence, the compensation order and a 24-week GAA suspension.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced28 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The victim, Liam Reilly, a man and wing forward for Maryland GAA, had his eye socket fractured.
  • The victim was left with impaired vision and was treated by specialists at St James's Hospital.
Where
The incident happened during an away club challenge match against Maryland, in which Tom Molloy was playing midfield for Shandonagh.
When
The incident happened on 24 February 2019.
Cause
The incident was described as an off-the-ball incident, and Molloy claimed there had been an earlier interaction during the match.
Other details
Molloy admitted using excessive force.
Charges
Tom Molloy, a 26-year-old man and self-employed electrician from Rathcolman, Mullingar, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm.
In court
The case was heard at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court.
Sentence
  • The judge set a headline sentence of four years, reduced to two years and six months, and suspended on conditions.
  • Molloy was ordered to pay €20,000 compensation to the victim within 12 months and received a 24-week GAA suspension.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe victim's eye socket was fractured. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was left with impaired vision. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe assault happened during an away club match against Maryland. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident happened on February 24th, 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe incident was described as an off-the-ball incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMolloy pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of four years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was reduced to two years and six months and suspended on conditions. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMolloy was ordered to pay €20,000 to the victim within 12 months. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMolloy admitted using excessive force. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMolloy had no prior criminal conviction. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGAA disciplinary authorities imposed a 24-week suspension on Molloy. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Jun2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Westmeath footballer who escaped jail for ‘off the ball’ match assault must pay €20,000 compensation

    Reports the sentencing of Tom Molloy: a suspended two-and-a-half-year sentence, €20,000 compensation to the victim, and a 24-week GAA suspension.

    convicted, Tom Molloy, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tom Molloyvictim, Liam Reilly, male, irish (judged from name)Liam Reilly