Sunday 1 November 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. 22511Assault on gardai; threatening to kill; throwing property · Co. Offaly · 6 Oct 2021

Young man under TUSLA care arraigned at Tullamore Circuit Court for assaulting and threatening gardai

An 18-year-old man under the care of TUSLA was arraigned at Tullamore Circuit Court for assaulting and threatening three gardai outside Tullamore Court House on 6 October 2021. Judge Andrew Cody adjourned the case to 21 June 2023 for an up-to-date probation report, warning the defendant he was within a hair's breadth of going to prison.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court31 Jan
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGarda Finbarr Leahy was speaking to the 18-year-old defendant outside Tullamore Courthouse on 6 October 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe defendant became verbally abusive and spat and punched Garda Leahy. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe defendant told Garda Leahy he was going to kill him. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatGarda Kieran Ryan came to Leahy's aid and the defendant also assaulted him. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe defendant picked up a Covid sign, property of the court services, and threw it down the steps of the courthouse. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe defendant threatened to assault and kill Sgt Richard Thornton. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe defendant was pepper sprayed and brought to Tullamore Garda Station. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe defendant became verbally abusive, spat and punched Garda Finbarr Leahy, and told him he was going to kill him. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatGarda Kieran Ryan came to the aid of Garda Leahy and was also assaulted by the defendant. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe defendant threatened to assault and kill Sgt Richard Thornton who had come to the aid of the other two gardai. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place outside Tullamore Court House on 6 October 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Andrew Cody described the behaviour as shocking and adjourned the case to 21 June for an up-to-date probation report. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Cody warned the defendant that if he even looks crossways at a garda he will go to prison and that he is within a hair's breadth of going to prison. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Andrew Cody described the behaviour as shocking and noted the defendant had to be pepper sprayed. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was adjourned to 21 June 2023 for an up-to-date probation report. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge warned the defendant that if he even looks crossways at a garda he will go to prison. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant was under the care of TUSLA when he committed the offences. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had 21 previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHis last conviction was at Tullamore District Court on 6 July 2022, resulting in six months probation. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has spent time in Oberstown children's detention centre. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherMost of the offences occurred when the defendant was under 18. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has been engaging with probation services since 2020. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant is on 15 tablets a day. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has been welcomed back into the family home and is looking at becoming an apprentice mechanic. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant is apologetic to Garda Leahy and was not on proper medication at the time of the incident. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had been under the care of TUSLA, the child and family agency, when he committed the offences. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had spent time in Oberstown children's detention centre. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherMost of the offences occurred when the defendant was under 18 years of age. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has been engaging with probation services since 2020 and is on significant medication. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant is apologetic to Garda Leahy and was not on proper medication at the time of the offence. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Feb2023
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Young man under care of TUSLA threatened to kill gardai

    First report of the court proceedings; defendant arraigned at Tullamore Circuit Court and case adjourned for a probation report.

    accused, 18, malevictim, Finbarr Leahy, male, irish (judged from name)Finbarr Leahyvictim, Kieran Ryan, male, irish (judged from name)Kieran Ryanvictim, Richard Thornton, male, irish (judged from name)Richard Thornton
  2. 31 Jan2023
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Young man under care of Tusla threatened to kill gardai outside Tullamore courthouse

    Provides further detail on the court hearing: the defendant's 21 previous convictions, time in Oberstown, current medication (15 tablets a day), his apologetic attitude, and Judge Cody's strong warning that he is within a hair's breadth of prison.

    victim, Finbarr Leahy, male, irish (judged from name)Finbarr Leahyvictim, Kieran Ryan, male, irish (judged from name)Kieran Ryanvictim, Richard Thornton, male, irish (judged from name)Richard Thorntonsuspect, 18, male