Saturday 31 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. 20363Assault causing harm · Co. Laois · 23 May 2022

Woman ordered to pay €2,500 over unprovoked assault outside Coppers pub, Portlaoise

On 23 May 2022, a man in his 20s was attacked outside Coppers pub at Market Square, Portlaoise, when a man and a woman pushed, punched and jumped on his head. Megan Fearon, 24, a woman from Bavan, Omeath, Louth, admitted a charge of assault causing harm at Portlaoise District Court in July 2023. Judge Cody described the attack as unprovoked and ordered Fearon to pay €2,500 in compensation to the victim, of which €1,500 was paid in court. The case was adjourned to 23 November 2023 for payment of the remaining €1,000.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced7 Jul
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man in his 20s was attacked when a man and a woman pushed, punched and jumped on his head outside Coppers pub.
Where
The incident took place outside Coppers pub at Market Square, Portlaoise, County Laois.
When
The incident occurred on 23 May 2022.
Cause
The attack was described as unprovoked; the victim was walking home and spoke to the man and woman outside the pub.
Investigation
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby gave evidence and no medical report was available to the court.
Charges
Megan Fearon, 24, of Bavan, Omeath, Louth, admitted a charge of assault causing harm.
In court
  • At Portlaoise District Court in July 2023, Judge Cody described the attack as unprovoked and noted the woman played a lesser part in the assault.
  • The case was adjourned to 23 November 2023 for payment of the remaining €1,000.
Sentence
Judge Cody ordered Fearon to pay €2,500 in compensation to the victim, of which €1,500 was paid in court.
Other details
  • The victim now suffers from headaches, nerve problems and anxiety.
  • Fearon has no previous convictions and was in Portlaoise to attend a concert at a local hotel.
23 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMegan Fearon admitted a charge of assault causing harm at Market Square in Portlaoise on 23 May 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe injured party was walking home when he spoke to a man and woman outside Coppers in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe man allegedly began jumping on the victim's head and punching him. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe man now suffers from headaches, nerve problems and anxiety. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe injured party was walking home when he spoke to a man and woman outside Coppers (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe woman pushed and punched the man in the head (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe victim suffers from headaches, nerve problems and anxiety (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place outside Coppers pub at Market Square in Portlaoise (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeMegan Fearon, 24, of Bavan, Omeath, Louth admitted a charge of assault causing harm at Market Square in Portlaoise on 23 May 2022 (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe solicitor asked for four months to gather a further €1,000 for the victim. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Cody adjourned the case to 23 November for payment of the remainder. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was adjourned to 23 November for payment of the remaining €1,000 (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Cody required €2,500 to be paid to the victim. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe €1,500 produced in court was ordered to be delivered to the victim. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Cody ordered €2,500 to be paid to the victim (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherNo medical report was available to the court. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has no previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherIt is agreed the woman played a lesser part in the assault. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe woman brought €500 to court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe woman had been in Portlaoise to attend a concert in a local hotel. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherShe had previously worked as a domestic in a hospital but was now on disability. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherShe was in a relationship with another man at the time and is no longer in that relationship. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe woman previously worked as a domestic in a hospital and is now on disability (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Jul2023
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Woman in court over ‘unprovoked’ attack on man outside popular pub in the Midlands

    Court hearing at Portlaoise District Court on 13 July 2023; defendant pleaded guilty, judge ordered €2,500 compensation, case adjourned to 23 November 2023 for payment of the remaining €1,000.

    accused, Megan Fearon, 24, female, named, irish (judged from name)Megan Fearonvictim, 20s, malesuspect, male
  2. 7 Jul2023
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Woman in court over ‘unprovoked’ attack on man in Portlaoise

    Provides full details of the sentencing hearing: Judge Cody's characterisation of the attack as 'unprovoked', the €2,500 compensation order, the €1,500 paid in court, the adjournment to 23 November, and background on the defendant including her employment and relationship status.

    victim, 20s, maleconvicted, Megan Fearon, 24, female, named, irish (judged from name)Megan Fearonsuspect, male