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Man attacked and bit garda who drove him home

Summary

In a 2018 incident, 25‑year‑old Shane Halpin of Lusk was found unconscious and vomiting on the side of the road. Garda Derek Dalton, who had driven Halpin home, was attacked when Halpin, intoxicated, bit him on the hand and later on the knee. Dalton suffered a fractured hand bone, two bites and a groin injury, and was unable to return to duty for six months. Halpin pleaded guilty to assaulting Dalton at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally described the event as a serious assault carried out by a young man unlikely to reoffend, imposed an indicative sentence of two years imprisonment, deferred it until April 1, and directed Halpin to pay €3,000 to Little Blue Heroes, a charity nominated by Dalton. The sentence was contingent on Halpin's compliance with a bond to keep the peace until that date.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man attacked and bit garda who drove him home. Charges or matters: assaulting Garda Derek Dalton causing him harm at his address on September 2, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• September 2, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
• April 1 Other
• 2020-02-05 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report