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Community service for festival-goer who repeatedly punched garda

Summary

Jason Hodgkins, 31, was at the Beatyard music festival in Dun Laoghaire on 4 August 2018 when he was caught with a drug tablet. Garda Desmond Molloy confronted him, and after Hodgkins was taken outside for a search he became agitated and argued with the officer. A scuffle followed, during which Hodgkins punched the garda six times in the head and tried to bite him. The officer was pepper‑sprayed and Hodgkins was subdued. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to a garda and to three counts of possession of small amounts of drugs, including cannabis and a 2CB tablet. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to 240 hours of community service within 12 months, replacing an 18‑month prison term, and imposed two suspended two‑month prison sentences for the drug offences. He had earlier paid €1,500 as a token of remorse, which was donated to Down Syndrome Ireland.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Community service for festival-goer who repeatedly punched garda. Charges or matters: one count of assault causing harm to Gda Molloy; three counts of possessing small amounts of drugs, including cannabis and a '2CB' tablet. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• August 4, 2018 Other
• 2020-06-16 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report