A man who brutally attacked two officers at Dublin’s Mater Hospital has been given a three-year prison sentence with the last six months suspended, reports Breaking News.
John Paul Duncan (39), of Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty on January 31 to possession of €8,500 worth of cocaine contained in six condoms at Store Street Garda Station.
Duncan also admitted assaulting two officers who took him to the Mater Hospital on the same day after he became ill after ingesting cocaine.
Passing sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday, Judge Orla Crowe refused to suspend Duncan’s sentence to allow him to undergo drug treatment in a residential facility.
Duncan’s defense lawyer Keith Spencer BL asked for the entire sentence to be postponed so his client can take up a place in a rehabilitation center starting next week.
Judge Crowe handed down the original four-year sentence for possession of cocaine, but reduced it in light of Duncan’s previous convictions, his remorse and his efforts at rehabilitation, reports Breaking News.
Mr Duncan’s attacks on police officers included what Judge Crowe described as “nasty”.
Garda Clodagh Doyle told an earlier hearing that officers were called to the cafe bar in the lot on Liffey Street Lower after a man was seen packing white powder under a table.
Duncan was arrested and taken to Store Street Garda Station where he removed six condoms from his trousers containing more than 122 grams of cocaine.
The court found that the total street value of the cocaine was just over €8,500, reports Breaking News.
Defence lawyer Spencer BL said Duncan had a well-documented and long-term drug addiction from the age of 15, progressing from marijuana to benzos, cocaine and then smoking crack.
“I’ve never been clean since I was 15. You’re talking 20 years,” Duncan said, reports Breaking News.
“My client is doing very well in custody and has an opportunity now to address his addiction. He’s willing to throw himself into any course that the court orders,” said Mr Spencer, reports Breaking News.
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