Ireland Crime

Named as

Victim

Offences

Assault (assault on a Garda, Spitting blood in face of a Garda)

Where

Co. Donegal

Reporting

7 reports, 18 Jun 2024 to 1 Jun 2025

Outlets

irishmirror.ie, donegallive.ie

• Man sentenced for headbutting and spitting on Garda in Buncrana Assault (assault on a Garda · Co. Donegal

  On 12 June 2024, Rodney Bonnes, a man with an address in Derry, allegedly headbutted Garda Kenneth Merritt and spat blood in his face at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana, Co Donegal, after a fall-out with his then girlfriend. He was arrested that day and charged with multiple offences including assault causing harm to the Garda, assault on a woman, obstruction of Detective Garda Kieran Kelly, criminal damage and public intoxication. After several adjournments at Letterkenny District Court, he was returned for trial in September 2024 and pleaded guilty to two charges at Letterkenny Circuit Court in February 2025. In June 2025, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to leave the jurisdiction for five years.

  Sentenced, 1 Jun 2025Victim · 7 reports

Each entry shows how that report described them.

1. 1 Jun2025
   Sentencedirishmirror.ie, in Man sentenced for headbutting and spitting on Garda in Buncrana

   Notorious criminal headbutted Garda and spat blood in his face in hotel

   victim, Kenneth Merritt, male, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Merritt♂IE
2. 1 Jun2025
   Sentenceddonegallive.ie, in Man sentenced for headbutting and spitting on Garda in Buncrana

   Man who head-butted and spat blood on Garda told not to enter Donegal for five years

   victim, Kenneth Merritt, male, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Merritt♂IE
3. 4 Feb2025
   Convicteddonegallive.ie, in Man sentenced for headbutting and spitting on Garda in Buncrana

   Man pleads guilty to head-butting and spitting blood on Donegal Garda

   victim, Kenneth Merritt, irish (judged from name)Kenneth MerrittIE
4. 25 Sep2024
   In courtdonegallive.ie, in Man sentenced for headbutting and spitting on Garda in Buncrana

   Man returned for trial for head-butting and spitting on Donegal garda

   victim, Kenneth Merritt, maleKenneth Merritt♂
5. 10 Sep2024
   In courtdonegallive.ie, in Man sentenced for headbutting and spitting on Garda in Buncrana

   Solicitor's frustration in case of man accused of headbutting garda at Donegal hotel

   victim, Kenneth Merritt, maleKenneth Merritt♂
6. 15 Jul2024
   In courtdonegallive.ie, in Man sentenced for headbutting and spitting on Garda in Buncrana

   DPP directions awaited for man charged with headbutting Garda at Buncrana hotel

   victim, Kenneth Merritt, irish (judged from name)Kenneth MerrittIE
7. 18 Jun2024
   In courtdonegallive.ie, in Man sentenced for headbutting and spitting on Garda in Buncrana

   Man alleged have headbutted garda, spat blood in his face at Buncrana hotel

   victim, Kenneth Merritt, irish (judged from name)Kenneth MerrittIE

Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.