Man jailed for assaulting man heading to Mass and garda in Cork City

The court heard the defendant 'was not in a rational state of mind'

The accused has been jailed for two months. File photo

A Garda Sergeant who went to the assistance of a person who was assaulted on his way to Mass in Cork City centre was himself assaulted by the attacker and now the culprit has been jailed for two months for both offences.

Mateusz Kowalczyk pleaded guilty to carrying out the two assaults when he appeared before Cork District Court.

The 33-year-old with an address at Leeside Apartments, Grattan Street, Cork, was sentenced by Judge Catherine Ryan at Cork District Court in relation to the assaults and a number of other charges to which he entered guilty pleas.

He admitted being intoxicated to such an extent that he was a danger to himself or others, engaging in threatening behaviour and assaulting a man at Bachelors Quay, Cork, at 7pm on Sunday, August 28. He also pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting and obstructing Sergeant John Burke as he was being arrested.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis outlined details of what occurred after 7 p.m. on September 28, 2025, at Bachelors Quay.

“Sgt Burke and Garda Bryan Crowley were informed by a member of the public that a male had assaulted another male on Bachelors Quay, Cork City. The suspect was being followed by the assault victim towards the Opera House, Lavitts Quay, Cork.

"Sgt Burke and Garda Crowley ran to the Opera House and met the injured party who identified the man who had punched him into the face when he was on his way to mass.

“Sgt Burke and Garda Crowley stopped the male on Lavitt’s Quay, and he immediately punched Sergeant Burke with a closed fist into the right cheek of his face. Pepper spray was deployed in order to subdue the suspect who was actively obstructing gardaí. The male was identified as Mateusz Kowalczyk. He was arrested by Garda Crowley."

Neither injured party required medical treatment.

Diarmuid Kelleher, solicitor, said of the accused: “Originally from Poland he has been in Ireland for six years. (A family member) who has been here for 20 years encouraged him to come over.

However, he lost his job and his life became chaotic. He fell into homelessness. That exacerbated his alcohol and drug addiction difficulties.

“In this incident he was not aware of what he was doing, he was so intoxicated. He was not in a rational state of mind… He is thoroughly remorseful and ashamed of what he has done.” 

Mr Kelleher said that cognitively the defendant had improved since this occurred and was completely, medically fit to enter the guilty pleas.