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. 15417Assault · Co. Laois · 16 Sep 2022

Woman bound to the peace after hitting garda with garden hoe in Laois

On 16 September 2022 in Castletown, Co Laois, Samantha Cash (38), of Danganroe, Castletown, allegedly hit a garda over the head with a garden hoe and also lashed out and kicked gardaí, who had gone to an address to arrest someone else. She was charged with four counts of assaulting gardaí and obstruction. She admitted the offences at Portlaoise District Court. Reports published on 20 and 21 November 2024 said she was bound to the peace for a year and ordered to engage with the relevant services.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced20 Nov
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Samantha Cash (38), of Danganroe, Castletown, admitted hitting a garda over the head with a garden hoe.
  • The accused also lashed out and kicked gardaí.
Where
The offences took place at Castletown, Co Laois.
When
The offences took place on 16 September 2022.
Cause
Gardaí arrived at an address in Castletown to arrest somebody, and the accused was not being sought by gardaí.
Weapon
A garden hoe was used to hit one garda over the head.
Charges
Samantha Cash was accused of four counts of assaulting gardaí and obstruction.
In court
  • The accused admitted the offences at Portlaoise District Court.
  • Reports of the court case were published on 20 and 21 November 2024.
Sentence
The judge bound the accused to the peace for a year and ordered her to engage with the relevant services.
Other details
  • The accused had minor previous convictions for road traffic matters and had not come to garda attention recently.
  • A probation report said the accused had engaged and was completing an anger management programme.
  • The defence said the accused suffered from anxiety and PTSD.
22 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA woman admitted hitting a garda over the head with a garden hoe. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatSamantha Cash was accused of four counts of assaulting gardaí and obstruction. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe accused admitted hitting a garda over the head with a garden hoe. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe accused also lashed out and kicked gardaí. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe offences took place at Castletown, Co Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Castletown, in Laois. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place on 16 September 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 16 September 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeGardaí went to an address to arrest the woman's husband. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe woman hit one garda with a garden hoe. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • weaponA garden hoe was used to hit a garda over the head. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí went to an address in Castletown to arrest someone else. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe woman was accused of four counts of assaulting gardaí and obstruction. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Portlaoise District Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge bound the woman to the peace for a year and ordered her to engage with the relevant services. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge bound the accused to the peace for a year. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge ordered the accused to engage with the relevant services. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe woman had minor previous convictions for road traffic matters and had not come to garda attention in the recent past. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherA probation report said the woman had engaged and was completing an anger management programme. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused had minor previous convictions for road traffic matters and had not come to garda attention recently. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherA probation report indicated the accused had engaged and was completing an anger management programme. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the accused suffered from anxiety and PTSD. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Nov2024
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Woman in the Midlands who hit garda over the head with a garden hoe bound to the peace

    Court outcome: the accused admitted the offences at Portlaoise District Court, was bound to the peace for a year and ordered to engage with services. Adds the weapon, the probation report and the solicitor's mitigation.

    convicted, Samantha Cash, 38, female, named, irish (judged from name)Samantha Cashvictim
  2. 20 Nov2024
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Woman hit garda over the head with a garden hoe in Laois

    Court report adding the charges (four counts of assaulting gardaí and obstruction), the garda sergeant's account, the solicitor's mitigation, the probation report and the judge's order.

    victimconvicted, Samantha Cash, 38, female, named, irish (judged from name)Samantha Cash