2021-07-07 · Dublin
Off-duty garda knocked unconscious and stabbed with fork
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John Doran, aged 35, was found guilty of assault causing harm and production of an article after he attacked an off‑duty Garda, Craig Shields, on Aungier Street on 15 August 2020. Doran, who had previously offered a "fake drug packet" to people, approached Shields while he was socialising with his girlfriend and asked if he wanted cocaine. When Shields identified himself as a Garda, Doran and a co‑accused assaulted him, knocking him unconscious. Witnesses reported Doran threw punches and used a fork to stab Shields in the head and face, causing lacerations, a fractured nose, a concussion and permanent scarring. Shields' official Garda identification card was taken but later recovered. Doran was arrested after CCTV footage identified him. The court adjourned the case for finalisation on 22 October, with a report from Probation Services ordered.