Electric Picnic security worker hit boss on head with chair

A security worker at Electric Picnic struck his boss on the head with a chair during the 2025 festival. 

Puneeth Bijjaragi (25) Macroom Road, Coolock, Dublin 17, appeared before Portlaoise District Court accused of criminal damage and assault causing harm in Stradbally on September 1, 2025. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was pleading guilty to the offences.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the man had been working as security in the campsite when he struck his boss on the head with a chair. “The chair damaged a campervan nearby,” he said. 

Sgt Kirby said the injured party suffered a minor laceration but no lasting damage. The estimated damage to the campervan was €20 and the man has no previous convictions, said Sgt Kirby. 

Mr Meagher said his client was a third year college student who is studying in Dublin. He explained that the man was taking any work he could get during the summer and he took a job working security at the Electric Picnic. 

Mr Meagher said the man found himself working on the outside fringe of the festival and “found himself working more or less 20 hours continuously” with little food. When the man’s boss questioned him about tents having been moved, the man was "agitated, hungry and tired,” said Mr Meagher. 

He explained of the two men that “one is from India and one is from Pakistan” and words were exchanged which he wouldn’t repeat in court before his client “in his tired state reacted poorly” and threw a plastic chair at his boss. He said the man didn’t follow up the assault.   

“He is extremely ashamed and worried over what has happened,” said Mr Meagher. He said the man had penned a letter outlining his “sorrow, regret and shame” over the matter. 

Mr Meagher said the man is on a student visa and realises it may be jeopardised as a result. He said the man is in receipt of an allowance of just over €200 a week but even so had managed to bring a sum of €1,000 to court. He said this represents a huge sum of money to the man. 

“He would be more than willing to cooperate and engage with the restorative justice programme,” said Mr Meagher. 

Judge Susan Fay noted the compensation and his plea and she ordered a probation report, restorative justice and a victim impact statement. She told Mr Meagher to hold onto the €1,000 and adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on May 12.