Jail sentence for headbutting female Garda at Ploughing Championships in Laois

An electrician who headbutted a female Garda at the National Ploughing Championships in Laois was branded a ‘thug’ by a Judge in Laois. 

David Feeney (42) of Ballymeeney, Dromore West, Co Sligo, headbutted a female Garda causing her harm at the National Ploughing Championships, Ratheniska, Laois on August 21, 2023.  He also admitted being intoxicated and engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour on the same date. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher explained that the incident had occurred outside the Heineken Tent at the National Ploughing Championships. He said his client was very apologetic and had brought a letter for the injured garda which he read in court. 

The letter outlined the defendant’s remorse and he said “I had no intention of injuring you or causing any harm” and he stated that “I hope you have recovered well”.  

Mr Meagher said his client felt remorse and shame over the incident at the Ploughing in Laois. He said the man had an argument with his partner and was in a “very agitated and drunk state” when the incident occurred. He said despite the efforts of the Gardaí on the day to calm him down, the defendant became more agitated, said Mr Meagher. 

He noted that during interview the man had said, “if I didn’t drink I wouldn’t be here”. 

Mr Meagher said his client fully accepts that he came into contact with the Garda’s head. 

“He admits that at the time he had a difficulty with drink,” said Mr Meagher. 

He said the man is “extremely ashamed” and knows the Garda was “only doing her duty” on the day. “He hasn’t taken a drink since,” said Mr Meagher, who told Judge Andrew Cody that the defendant hasn’t come to adverse attention since. 

Mr Meagher told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the defendant was in a serious road traffic collision which resulted in his partner sustaining severe injuries. 

“He is presently out of work because of the fact that he is looking after his partner,” said Mr Meagher. 

“She was in intensive care for a number of weeks… he is basically her primary carer at the moment,” he said. Mr Meagher said the man had managed to gather €2,100 in compensation which he had in court. He said the man was hoping to get back to work the following week. “He is beside himself with regret and shame,” said Mr Meagher. 

Judge Cody asked when the man had stopped working as an electrical contractor? He was told he stopped eight weeks earlier. 

“He has had three years of good money,” said Judge Cody, who noted the incident occurred in 2023.

Mr Meagher said “he is saying that that is the best he can do at this time” but he was open to gathering more. After consulting with his client, Mr Meagher said the man would be willing to pay €10,000 in total. He asked for some time and said, “they are basically trying to get back on their feet”. 

Garda Sergeant Jason Hughes said the injured Garda had indicated that she was willing to accept the apology. He said she would say the “headbutt was to the side of the head”. 

Judge Cody rose to consider the case and when he returned he said the defendant had “what can only be described as a serious and varied criminal history” with 32 previous convictions.  He said the man’s previous convictions included for arson, obstruction, criminal damage and dangerous driving. He said his last conviction occurred in June 2022 and just over 12 months later he was in the Heineken tent at the National Ploughing Championships where at 4.40pm he was still being served drink despite being obviously drunk. 

Judge Cody said the defendant tried to hit a patron who called Gardaí. The injured Garda asked for details and the defendant became verbally abusive and had to be arrested and handcuffed. 

He said as the man was “being escorted past families and children” the man continued to insult the female Garda and he “headbutted her right into the forehead as a result she became dizzy”. 

Judge Cody described the injured Garda as “an outstanding member of An Garda Siochana” and he said the accused was a “recidivist thug”. He told him the Garda had to be taken to hospital with concussion and had to return to her family, who he said were no doubt traumatised, with a black eye.  

He said she suffered “concussion which resulted in a headache and disturbance to her sleep” and he noted in her victim impact statement she had said, “I was only doing my job”. 

Judge Cody said he had no time for “thugs” like the accused who are insulting or abusing hospitality staff, taxi drivers, hospital workers or Gardaí. 

He said to arrive in court after two and half years with a letter and €2,100 and an offer of €10,000 if given time was, “miserable and an insult”. 

Judge Cody sentenced the man to two months in prison for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour and an additional four months for assault. He also imposed a fine of €2,000 for the assault and €500 for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour. He fixed recognisance in case of appeal and the accused lodged an appeal before the court sitting ended.