Suspended sentence for assault on hurlers at Kilkenny's Nowlan Park
The assaults took place at the end of a senior club quarter final between Shamrocks Ballyhale and Kilcormac Killoughey
A five-month suspended sentence was handed down to a defendant who admitted assaulting two Kilkenny hurlers at the end of club quarter final match at Nowlan Park.
Brendan Monaghan, 9 Glendine, Kilcormac, Co Offaly admitted two counts of assault contrary to section 2 of The Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and to being intoxicated in a public place and to engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at Nowlan Park on November 9, 2025.
Inspector Paul Donohoe told Kilkenny District Court this afternoon that Mr Monaghan had entered the pitch after the game ended and ran over and struck hurler, Adrian Mullen three times on the head.
The inspector added that the Shamrocks Ballyhale hurler was wearing a helmet at the time.
The defendant then picked up a hurl from the ground and attempted to strike another Shamrocks Ballyhale hurler, TJ Reid but was restrained by a Kilcormac Killoughey player.
The court heard that the entire incident was captured on television by TG4 and footage shows Brendan Monaghan being aggressive to the public and leaving through the rear of the Ardan de Gras at Nowlan Park.
Inspector Donohoe apprehended the offender as he left the stadium on the Hebron Road and he was restrained and conveyed to Kilkenny Garda Station and was subsequently charged under sections 4 and 6 of The Public Order Act.
A file was prepared for the DPP and there was a direction for assault charges contrary to section 2 of The Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act on Adrian Mullen and TJ Reid.
A probation report was before the court. The case was previously adjourned to see if victim impact statements were available and there were none before the court at the finalisation of the case earlier today (Monday).
Judge Geraldine Carthy told the court that ‘no person should attack or insult any player after a match’.
“GAA players play for the love of the game and to learn and improve and hopefully get some silverware. Mistakes are part of the sport and every player deserves respect regardless of the result or side they play on.
“True sportmanship means offering encouragement, constructive feedback and appreciation for the efforts shown on the field. Winning and losing are temporary but respect for others should always remain.”
The judge convicted and sentenced Brendan Monaghan to five months in prison which she suspended for 18 months on condition that the defendant be of good behaviour, not to reoffend, pay €2,000 within six months to Ballyhale Shamrocks for their own use for player development and juveniles and not to attend Nowlan Park for the duration of the sentence.
At an earlier court in February Garda Inspector Paul Donohoe gave evidence in court of charging Mr Monaghan.
In reply to the charges, the inspector noted that the defendant said “I’m very sorry for what I did.” He said it had been ‘in the heat of the moment,’ going on to apologise to the stewards at the ground and the Ballyhale Shamrocks team.
Mr Monaghan told the Inspector he ‘shouldn’t have done what he did’ and acknowledged it was not a great example to give young GAA fans.
“I want to say sorry to one of the all-time greats TJ Reid and Adrian Mullen,” Mr Monaghan told the inspector.