Threw blood at garda in Carlow garda station and daubed it on the walls of cell after drunken rampage
Carlow Garda Station
A MAN who went on a rampage through Carlow Garda Station, throwing his own blood at an officer and daubing it across a cell wall after being arrested was sentenced to five months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
Paul Nolan (45) was arrested on 14 September 2024 after his car crossed the central median on a road near Ballyadams on the road between Goresbridge and Borris, causing a garda car on patrol to brake sharply and avoid a collision.
The defendant volunteered to undergo a roadside breathalyser test which he failed, and he was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.
Mr Nolan had become “agitated and was abusive” towards gardaí as they transported him to Carlow Garda Station. On arrival, Mr Nolan “bolted up the steps of the station” and ran into an upstairs toilet, locking the door behind him, the court heard.
When gardaí forced the door open, it struck Mr Nolan, who was standing directly behind it, causing a cut to his forehead.
Blood began collecting in his hand and he threw some of it at garda Wilkinson, striking him in the face. He then daubed and wiped blood on the wall of his cell.
A blood sample taken at the station found Mr Nolan had 180mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood; the legal limit is 80mg. However, a drink-driving charge was dismissed after Judge Geraldine Carthy accepted a challenge to the chain of custody of the blood sample.
He was charged with assault under section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, assaulting a peace officer under section 19 of the Criminal Justice Act (Public Order) Act 1994 and causing criminal damage to the garda station under section 2(1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991.
Solicitor Chris Hogan said his client wanted to apologise to the gardaí. He said Mr Nolan drank too much on the night in question and was experiencing a romantic break-up. He was diagnosed with a serious concussion.
Mr Nolan from 8 Rivercourt, Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny has one previous conviction for assault causing harm from 2022, said Insp Jones.
Judge Carthy previously indicated that if the defendant presented with €500 in compensation before the court, she would consider a suspended sentence.
She imposed the suspended sentence on Mr Nolan for the assault charge, taking into consideration the other two charges.
