Ex-Army man jailed for biting garda's ear

A former soldier who bit the ear of a garda who was trying to break up a fight has been sentenced to three years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Frank O’Donnell told Darren Joyce (aged 23): "This was a vicious attack. You can’t do that to a garda and just say sorry.

"The gardaí must be supported when they go out at night and we’re all at home resting and relaxing."

Judge O’Donnell suspended two years of the sentence for five years and ordered him to undergo one year’s probation on his release.

"I hope the message goes out that people can’t do that sort of thing to the gardaí," he added.

Garda Hugh Carroll received eight stitches and had to wait six months to find out if he had contracted any infectious diseases in the attack.

Joyce, of St Ronan’s Drive, Clondalkin pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the garda on March 18, 2008, outside a Clondalkin pub.

Joyce was fighting with another man outside the pub when gardaí tried to break them up. During the fracas Joyce bit down on Gda Carroll's ear before being arrested.

Gda Carroll was taken to hospital where he received painkillers and stitches. He was tested for HIV and hepatitis had to wait six months for the all-clear.

Insp Pat O’Sullivan said Joyce was drunk and violent when he was brought to the garda station but became quiet and remorseful as he sobered up. He told gardaí he was sorry and asked if Gda Carroll was all right.

Defence counsel, Ms Kathleen Leader BL, said Joyce was in the Defence Forces for a year and had worked as a roofer since then but was currently unemployed

She said he had undergone anger management treatment since the incident and had €230 in court as compensation. Gda Carroll refused the money and asked that it go to the Garda Benevolent Fund.