A Garda armed support unit (ASU) officer has told a court that being spat in the face with a "cocktail" of phlegm and blood felt worse than being punched or life-threatening injuries he suffered previously on duty.
Deividas Grigonis (34), of Verdemont Apartments, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, had pleaded not guilty to assaulting the Garda Sergeant on December 8th, 2023.
However, he did not show up for his scheduled hearing at Dublin District Court on Thursday, which proceeded in his absence.
Judge John Hughes heard the officer intervened in a retail crime incident at Fresh supermarket on Dublin's Camden Street where the accused got into an altercation with a security guard.
The court heard the garda was getting refreshments when he saw the situation developing at the back of the supermarket.
He went to assist the security man, identified himself as a Garda and used the word police, but the accused would not cease.
The court heard Grigonis continued shouting abuse and began telling the officer to f**k off.
The court heard the officer noted the accused spoke an eastern European language, using a word which means "b*tch”.
The garda attempted to restrain Grigonis as he struggled, before he "hocked" and spat phlegm in the garda's face.
The court heard the accused appeared intoxicated and smelled of alcohol, and was bleeding as he had a bottle of vodka up his sleeve which had broken during the altercation.
The office said it was worse than a punch or any other injury he had sustained in the line of duty, adding it had affected his sleeping pattern and how he now goes about his work.
He outlined how he had been a member of An Garda Síochána for over 15 years, and frequently attended serious incidents as part of his work with the Armed Support Unit.
The officer said he had been previously been attacked four times while on duty, resulting in a range of wounds, some of which he described as life-threatening injuries requiring surgery.
However, in his victim impact statement, he said his interaction with Grigonis was "horrific" and "the cocktail of blood and spit on his face" was worse than the previous assaults he had endured.
The garda added that although he was satisfied the blood and spit did not enter his body, he may have to get blood tests.
Judge Hughes found the accused guilty of assault and related public order charges.
He noted that Grigonis, who had been on bail pending his hearing, had 15 prior convictions and issued a warrant for his arrest to have him brought before the court for sentencing.
