Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 19533Assault · Co. Dublin

Man jailed over assaults on gardaí at Mater Hospital and cocaine possession

John Paul Duncan (39), a man from Tallaght, Dublin 24, was sentenced for possessing cocaine and assaulting two gardaí, offences dated 31 January. Gardaí were called to Lott's Café Bar on Liffey Street Lower, and Duncan later assaulted two gardaí, including Garda Doyle, at the Mater Hospital in Dublin on the same day. He pleaded guilty to possessing €8,500 of cocaine at Store Street Garda Station and admitted the assaults. On 11 October 2023 (reported 12 October 2023), Judge Orla Crowe at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court imposed three years in prison with the final six months suspended for 18 months, with supervision by Probation Services.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced12 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • John Paul Duncan, a 39-year-old man of Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and admitted assaulting two gardaí.
  • Duncan had six condoms containing over 122 grams of cocaine with a total street value of just over €8,500.
  • Duncan bit Garda Doyle's hands hard enough to penetrate two pairs of gloves and headbutted a female garda colleague.
Cause
Key facts say Duncan produced the condoms from his trousers, while the article says he became unwell after swallowing cocaine.
When
The cocaine possession and the assaults on the two gardaí took place on 31 January.
Where
The assaults on the two gardaí happened at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, where they had taken Duncan after he became unwell.
Investigation
Gardaí were called to Lott's Café Bar on Liffey Street Lower after a man was seen wrapping white powder under a table.
Charges
  • Duncan pleaded guilty to possessing €8,500 of cocaine at Store Street Garda Station.
  • Duncan admitted assaulting two gardaí who took him to the Mater Hospital on the same day.
In court
Sentence was passed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Orla Crowe, as reported on 12 October 2023.
Other details
The judge set a headline sentence of four years for possessing cocaine.
Sentence
  • Duncan was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final six months suspended for 18 months.
  • The judge refused to suspend the whole sentence so that Duncan could attend residential drug treatment.
  • On release, Duncan was ordered to be of good behaviour for 18 months and to be supervised by the Probation Services.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDuncan was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final six months suspended. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatDuncan produced six condoms from his trousers filled with over 122 grams of cocaine. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe cocaine had a total street value of just over €8,500. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatDuncan bit Garda Doyle's hands hard enough to penetrate two pairs of gloves. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatDuncan headbutted a female garda colleague. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereThe assaults on two gardaí happened at the Mater Hospital in Dublin. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationGardaí were called to Lott's Café Bar on Liffey Street Lower after a man was seen wrapping white powder under a table. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeDuncan pleaded guilty to possessing €8,500 of cocaine at Store Street Garda Station. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeDuncan admitted assaulting two gardaí who took him to the Mater Hospital on the same day. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtSentence was passed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Orla Crowe. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceThe judge refused to suspend the whole sentence so Duncan could attend residential drug treatment. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceThe judge suspended the final six months of the sentence for 18 months. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceDuncan was ordered to be of good behaviour for 18 months on release and to be supervised by the Probation Services. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe judge set a headline sentence of four years for possessing cocaine. (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Oct2023
    Sentencedkildarenow.com, first report
    Man residing near Kildare-Dublin border who violently assaulted two gardaí at the Mater Hospital is jailed

    Sentencing report for one accused, covering a cocaine possession charge at Store Street Garda Station and assaults on two gardaí at the Mater Hospital. No existing case in the list matches this incident.

    convicted, John Paul Duncan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul Duncanvictim, Clodagh Doyle, female, irish (judged from name)Clodagh Doylevictim