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Machine gun attacker sentenced for unprovoked pub assault
Summary
Laurence Grocott, aged 38, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for an unprovoked assault at Capel's Bar in Dublin on 12 October 2018. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm to a man. CCTV footage showed Grocott approaching the victim and his friend, punching the victim several times to the head and face, leaving a one‑inch scar on the victim's jaw. The victim and his friend were drinking when Grocott and his friends offered them drugs; they declined and moved seats, after which Grocott attacked without warning. The victim tried to defend himself and was taken to hospital. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the 18‑month sentence to run concurrently with Grocott's existing nine‑year term for drug offences and a machine‑gun attack, noting he is making progress in custody and is now drug‑free. Grocott has a history of various jobs and is a grandfather.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Machine gun attacker sentenced for unprovoked pub assault. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 2019 Incident
- October 12, 2018 Incident
- 2021-12-14 Publication
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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