A judge has decided not to convict an off-duty Garda who represented Roscommon at senior inter-county football level after assaulting a hotel porter.
Ennis District Court heard the case of Caoileann Fitzmaurice for a late night assault which occurred in 2023.
Caoileann Fitzmaurice, aged 31, who is stationed at Pearse Street Garda Station in Dublin, pleaded guilty to assaulting a hotel porter late at night in Ennis.
Mr Fitzmaurice of Colliers Avenue, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, is heavily involved in GAA where he is captain of local senior football team, Michael Glaveys in Roscommon.
A prosecution was held against him at Ennis District Court, with the guilty plea indicated last week.
The court heard that the Garda was off-duty on the night of the incident on January 21st 2023, when he was out with friends in Ennis.
He was described as 'exceptionally intoxicated and in a confused state, and was brought back to Queen's Hotel by friends for the purpose of putting him to bed.
But they left him in the care of hotel porter, Mr. Olufegun Lawal to bring him up to his room.'
The court heard that Mr Fitzmaurice was very 'disoriented -- he dropped the key to his hotel room, and Mr Lawal, who was trying to assist him, picked up the key, and the Garda struck him two times, once in the nose and once in the left eye.
The incident spilled out onto the street where a witness saw Mr Fitzmaurice holding onto Mr Lawal and kicking out.
The account was backed by CCTV footage.
There was no attempt at any stage during the course of the incident by Mr Fitzmaurice to invoke his status as a member of An Garda Síochána.
On behalf of Mr Fitzmaurice who was also present in court, Cian Kelly BL told the court that what occurred on the night 'was completely out of character' for Mr Fitzmaurice.
He confirmed that his client 'has never had an incident at work and has no previous convictions of any kind.'
At the adjourned sitting of the case earlier this week, Judge Alec Gabbett said that he would not be imposing a conviction on Mr. Fitzmaurice "due to the exemplary fashion in which he has engaged with the Probation Services."
Mr. Fitzmaurice had also offered €5,000 in compensation to Mr. Lawal, which the court also noted.
Judge Gabbett said Mr. Fitzmaurice 'showed remorse, apologised, faced up to it, and paid compensation," and that he has given up alcohol and engaged in counselling.
The judge also was 'very conscious' of the notoriety this case has brought Mr. Fitzmaurice, and that it is never easy for a member of An Garda Síochána to be before the courts.
On his way out of the courtroom, Mr Fitzmaurice was seen shaking hands with Mr Lawal.
