By Declan Brennan
A crack cocaine addict who knocked a garda unconscious by headbutting him in the middle of a court hearing will be sentenced next January.
Gardai were removing Jason Gumble (33) from Dublin District Court after a failed application for bail when Gumble lunged at Garda Conor O’Dwyer “with severe force”. He struck the victim in the face with his head, Garda Sergeant James Ward told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gda Sgt Ward testified that he witnessed the assault and heard a very loud thud of “bone on bone”. He said it was fortunate that Gumble missed the victim’s nose given the force of the blow.
Gda O’Dwyer fell to the ground and briefly lost consciousness. The court heard his face became swollen and he was brought to the nearby Mater Hospital and treated for concussion and soft tissue damage.
The victim was out of work for four weeks but is now back at work on full duties, Gda Sgt Ward said.
He said that before the assault Gumble had been extremely aggressive in court. Gumble was shouting profanities at the judge and his lawyer.
Gda O’Dwyer came to assist with Gumble’s removal from court, and before the assault Gumble turned to him and said: “I’m gonna get you”.
Gumble of Drumalee Park, North Circular Rd., Dublin 7 pleaded guilty last June to assault causing harm at the Courts of Criminal Justice on Parkgate St., Dublin 8 on March 3, 2025.
His 148 previous convictions include assault convictions, burglary, possession of knives, drug dealing, threatening to assault a police officer, resisting arrest, car theft and handling stolen property.
At the time of this assault, he was subject to a suspended sentence imposed less than two months earlier for an offence of threatening and insulting behaviour.
In his victim impact statement, Gda O’Dwyer said that he has a loss of earnings and allowances while he was out of work for a month. He said he has ongoing difficulties with sleep and is more irritable than he was before the assault.
He said that while he is back on full duties, he has not gone back to the same way of working as he feels more apprehensive and more conscious of his own safety.
“I am much more conscious of the possibility that a prisoner may attack me,” he stated.
Keith Spencer BL, defending, said that Gumble insists that he was intoxicated at the time of the assault and was under psychosis. He was using crack cocaine at the time but has come off drugs completely since going into custody.
“He instructs that he completely lost his mind and apologises for his actions,” Mr Spencer said. He asked Judge Orla Crowe to note that he presented in court before her behaving himself “in a normal way”.
Judge Crowe remanded him in custody to January 14 next, when she will finalise sentence. She directed a Probation Services assessment to include a mental health assessment and drug testing.