Cork man with '10 bags a day' heroin addiction bit hands of garda in 'nasty, vicious assault'

Court told when accused was being brought to Bridewell Garda Station after €2,150 worth of heroin was found in his apartment, he bit a garda on both hands, drawing blood

Court told accused, 37, was involved in criminality and drugs from the time he was a very young man.

A heroin addict with a “10 bags a day” addiction was jailed for three years for what the judge described as “a particularly nasty, vicious form of assault” where he bit the hands of an arresting garda.

Donal O’Sullivan, 37, who had a previous address on Leitrim Street, Cork, appeared in Cork Circuit Criminal Court where Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed a sentence of four years, with the last year suspended.

“The guards were trying to control Donal O’Sullivan so that a search could be carried out and he ended up biting Garda Ramsey twice… He was involved in criminality from the time he was a very young man. He was involved in drugs, which is borne out by his list of convictions. He did apologise. But it was a particularly nasty, vicious form of assault,” Judge Sheehan said.

Detective Garda Pat Barry testified in relation to the background to the case where the defendant pleaded guilty to having heroin for sale or supply and to assault causing harm to a member of An Garda Síochána.

“On April 11, Donal O’Sullivan was arrested for a search when gardaí observed him sitting in a car at Kilmore Road in Knocknaheeny.

“A wrap of heroin was found in his sock. And cannabis was found on the floor of the car. There was a follow-up search of his apartment [on Leitrim Street)] and suspected heroin with a value of €2,150 was found.

“When he was being brought to a cell at Bridewell Garda Station he bit Garda Brian Ramsay on both hands, drawing blood. Garda Ramsay had to attend hospital for these injuries.”