Courts / Dublin / Report

Criminal who violently attacked gardai in hospital asks for sentence to be stayed

Date
2023-10-05
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

John Paul Duncan, 39, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €8,500 in cocaine contained in six condoms at Store Street Garda Station on January 31 last. He also admitted assaulting two gardaí who took him to the Mater Hospital on the same day after he reported feeling unwell. Duncan, who has 139 previous convictions in Ireland and 11 in other jurisdictions, was previously sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a €1.8 million cocaine haul in 2007. He escaped from Loughan House open prison in 2016 and was later extradited from the UK. During the sentencing hearing, Duncan requested that his sentence be stayed to allow him to undertake a 14-week residential drug treatment course starting October 17. He testified that he has been drug-free for a couple of months and cited childhood domestic violence as the origin of his addiction. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the matter for sentence to next Wednesday, October 11, to obtain a urine analysis. The court did not conclude the case or impose a final penalty during this session.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Criminal who violently attacked gardai in hospital asks for sentence to be stayed. Charges or matters: possessing €8,500 in cocaine contained in six condoms at Store Street Garda Station on January 31 last. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

John Paul Duncan

Convicted Person

Charges: possessing €8,500 in cocaine contained in six condoms at Store Street Garda Station on January 31 last (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Duncan was previously jailed for his role in a €1.8 million cocaine haul in 2007. He was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a €1.8 million cocaine haul in 2007.; Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the matter for sentence to next Wednesday, October 11 to obtain urine analysis.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Facility
  • Loughan House
  • Mater hospital
Residence
Garda Station
  • condoms at Store Street Garda Station
  • Store Street
  • brought to Store Street Garda Station
Incident
  • Liffey Street

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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