Drumcondra man arrested for striking off-duty Garda on head with bottle, Get the Facts Right here, Marius Elisei (47) with an address at Whitworth Road, Drumcondra, is not a Drumcondra man, he is Non National, very Insulting to the People of North Dublin.

Dublin People 04 Apr 2025

A man who struck an off-duty garda on the head with a bottle outside Heuston Station has been jailed for 20 months.

Marius Elisei (47) with an address at Whitworth Road, Drumcondra pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on September 25, 2023.

Detective Garda Mark Kelly outlined at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that the injured party had gotten off his train at Heuston Station and was on his way to start work when he spotted Elisei sitting in the vicinity of the Luas stop, drinking beer.

The injured party approached and identified himself as a member of An Garda Siochana. He told Elisei he shouldn’t be drinking in public and that it was a breach of by-laws. He asked him to put the bottles into the bin.

Elisei stood up, taking the bottles with him and then moved to the middle platform of the Luas stop. The injured party followed him, asking Elisei to put the beer bottles in the bin again.

Elisei replied, “You’re a guard. Yeah, I’ll put them in the bin”. While holding a bottle of beer, he then raised his arm above his head and struck the injured party with the bottle, causing a gash to his forehead.

The victim fell onto the track, then saw Elisei coming towards him swinging his arm while holding a bottle. The injured party dodged him and there was a struggle during which Elisei attempted to push forward.

The victim managed to restrain Elisei, who was still struggling.

The injured party noticed blood and felt weak. After the gardai had arrived, he was taken to A&E, where he received three stitches for the cut to his forehead. The garda was also off work for 15 days following this incident.

When interviewed, Elisei made admissions but didn’t give a clear explanation for his actions.  He told gardai he was living in hostel accommodation at the time.

Elisei didn’t attend court on an initial sentencing date and has been in custody since January 21 last, when a bench warrant was executed.

He has 22 previous convictions, all from the District Court, including 16 for public order offences.

The injured party declined to make a victim impact statement.

Det Gda Kelly agreed with Keith Spencer BL, defending, that the assault was over in seconds, but added that the struggle lasted for around five minutes.

The garda also accepted that Elisei appears to have difficulties with drink. He agreed that Elisei’s responses during interview were quite confused, but he didn’t deny his involvement.

Mr Spencer told the court Elisei is from Romania and came to Ireland in 2007.

His client is a welder, but his qualifications aren’t recognised here. Elisei has a good work history in construction.

Mr Spencer noted the evidence that alcohol is a significant issue in his client’s life, but Elisei maintains he is not an alcoholic.

He said his client is remorseful and apologises to the injured party.  Elisei is doing well in custody but finds it difficult to be away from his family. Mr Spencer asked the court for as much leniency as possible for his client.

Judge Martin Nolan noted that Elisei has a history of similar behaviour.  “When he gets drunk, he becomes difficult to all parties who have to encounter him,” the judge said, adding that Elisei had become “irascible and a little violent” during this incident.

Having considered the mitigation, he imposed a 20-month sentence backdated to January 25 last when Elisei went into custody.