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. 18679Assault on gardaí · Co. Offaly · 14 Oct 2023

Woman sentenced for assaulting two gardaí at Tullamore Garda Station

On 14 October 2023 at about 3.10am, Dena Gonoude (29, a woman of Tullamore, Co Offaly) staggered into the public office of Tullamore Garda Station while highly intoxicated and holding a can of beer, was abusive to gardaí, and was said to have assaulted Garda Dillon McGlynn and Garda Dermot Bannon. She pleaded guilty to the offences at the district court, and the judge imposed three months suspended for two years for each assault, with other offences taken into consideration. The latest development is the sentencing, reported on 8 and 9 January 2024, after a hearing the week before.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Dena Gonoude, 29, was highly intoxicated and holding a can of beer when she went into the public office.
  • She was highly abusive to gardaí and kicked out at Garda Dillon McGlynn.
  • Gardaí said she punched Garda Dermot Bannon in the chest, which she disputed in court.
  • Sergeant Brendan Kearns said that while she was being arrested and escorted by Garda Alan Mills, she dragged her feet on the ground.
Where
The incident took place in the public office of Tullamore Garda Station, Co Offaly.
When
The incident happened on 14 October 2023 at about 3.10am.
Charges
She pleaded guilty to the offences, having accepted that she kicked out at a garda but denied punching Garda Bannon in the chest.
In court
  • The case was heard at the district court in the week before reports published on 8 and 9 January 2024.
  • She had two previous convictions for intoxication and public order offences, for which she was fined €400.
Sentence
  • For the assault on Garda Bannon, the judge imposed three months suspended for two years.
  • For the assault on Garda McGlynn, the judge imposed a further three months suspended for two years.
  • The judge took the other offences into consideration.
Other details
Her solicitor said she had been assaulted by another person before going to the station, was apologetic, had written a letter of apology, and did not accept punching Garda Bannon in the chest.
34 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatShe was highly abusive to gardaí. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatShe kicked out at Garda Dillon McGlynn. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatShe punched Garda Dermot Bannon in the chest, which she disputed in court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe woman was highly intoxicated and holding a can of beer when she entered the station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe woman was highly abusive to gardaí. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe woman dragged her feet on the ground while being escorted by Garda Alan Mills. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe woman went on to assault two gardaí. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatShe staggered into the public office holding a can of beer. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatShe dragged her feet on the ground while being escorted by Garda Alan Mills. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatGardaí said she punched Garda Dermot Bannon in the chest. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereGonoude staggered into the public office of Tullamore Garda Station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe woman went into the public office of Tullamore Garda Station. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on 14 October 2023 at 3.10am. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on 14 October 2023 at about 3.10am. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe woman accepted that she kicked out at a garda but denied punching Garda Dermot Bannon in the chest. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe woman pleaded guilty to the offences at district court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtShe pleaded guilty to the offences. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at the district court the week before the report. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard in the district court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtShe had two previous convictions for intoxication and public order offences. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceFor the assault on Garda Bannon, the judge imposed three months suspended for two years. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceFor the assault on Garda McGlynn, the judge imposed a further three months suspended for two years. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge took the other offences into consideration. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceFor the assault on Garda Dermot Bannon, the judge imposed three months suspended for two years. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceFor the assault on Garda Dillon McGlynn, the judge imposed another three months suspended for two years. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceFor the assault on Garda Dillon, the judge imposed another three months suspended for two years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherShe was highly intoxicated when she went into the station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherShe had two previous convictions for intoxication and public order offences, for which she was fined €400. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHer solicitor said she had been assaulted herself before going into the garda station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHer solicitor said she was apologetic and had written a letter of apology. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe woman's solicitor said she had been assaulted by another person before going to the station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe woman had two previous convictions for intoxication and public order offences, for which she was fined €400. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHer solicitor said she did not accept that she punched Garda Bannon in the chest. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHer solicitor said she had written a letter of apology. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 9 Jan2024
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Drunk woman with beer can assaulted gardaí after staggering into Midlands station

    Court report of the sentencing. Gives the account of the assault on gardaí at Tullamore Garda Station, the guilty plea, the defence's account, and the suspended sentences.

    convicted, Dena Gonoude, 29, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Dena Gonoudevictim, Dermot Bannon, irish (judged from name)Dermot Bannonvictim, Dillon McGlynn, irish (judged from name)Dillon McGlynn
  2. 9 Jan2024
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Woman staggered into Tullamore Garda station with can of beer in her hand and assaulted two gardai

    Court report of the guilty plea and sentencing for the assault on two gardaí at Tullamore Garda Station on 14 October 2023. No matching existing case.

    convicted, Dena Gonoude, 29, female, namedDena Gonoudevictim, Dillon McGlynn, irish (judged from name)Dillon McGlynnvictim, Dermot Bannon, irish (judged from name)Dermot Bannon
  3. 8 Jan2024
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Woman staggered into Garda station with can of beer in her hand

    Court report on the guilty plea and sentencing: the judge's remarks, the sentences, and the defence account, including that the accused denied punching one garda.

    convicted, Dena Gonoude, 29, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Dena Gonoudevictim, Dillon McGlynn, irish (judged from name)Dillon McGlynnvictim, Dermot Bannon, irish (judged from name)Dermot Bannon