Man’s violent attacks on store worker and doctor

A 42 year old man with severe mental health issues left a store clerk with blood streaming down her face following a robbery and kicked a doctor in the head while he was detained.

Bartosz Golonka from 112 Cluain Rí Ashbourne was in Trim Circuit Court charged with robbery and two counts of assault causing harm. He was found fit to plead earlier this year and pleaded guilty to all charges shortly after. Mr Golonka was sentenced to four years in prison with an additional six months suspended for 12 months following his release.

Detective Garda Leevy told the court in the morning of 16th February last year Mr Golonka entered Day Today at Frederick Street, Ashbourne asking for cigarettes. He was given them by a woman at the till but when he attempted to pay using lotto tickets she took them back and said he had to pay with money. He then left the shop and stood outside staring into the store at the woman before re-entering after a short period. He asked for a pen before being given one and began writing on a passport and once again asked for cigarettes before the woman said he needed money.

Following this, Mr Golonka went behind the counter and grabbed the woman before hitting her numerous times in the face. She was grabbed by the hair and dragged to the cigarette machine. He took cigarettes from the machine and also her handbag, continuing to drag and hit the injured party while she tried to get her bag back. After this he stopped his assault and walked out of the store in a calm manner.

Gardaí were alerted to the incident and found the injured party in a distraught state with blood streaming from her face. The accused was found close to the store attempting to hide behind a bush.

The injured party attended Connolly hospital and had a haemorrhage in her eye socket, a facial fracture, cut lip, and a bruised nose.

Mr Golonka was arrested and detained in Ashbourne Garda station where he was shouting and screaming in distress within his cell. A doctor at the scene gave him painkillers but when his sister arrived at the station, saying he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and did not take his medication for three days, he was seen by a doctor again.

During this follow-up examination the accused kicked the doctor in the face and he had to be restrained. Another doctor assessed him before he was brought to Drogheda Department of Psychiatry.

The woman in the store told the court through her victim impact statement following the assault she has been “the complete opposite of the friendly, bubbly person I used to be”. She said she is constantly in fear of being attacked and found herself terrified of taking her kids to school. She has since left her job due to this incident.

The accused has 25 previous convictions in Ireland, most recently an assault that occurred in March of last year, and 29 in Poland including a robbery he was given a five year prison sentence for.

Defending barrister Shane Kelly told the court it is beyond any doubt his client is suffering from a mental illness and he is not suited to a prison environment. BL Kelly said the accused’s sister was in close proximity to the accused and was making sure he took his medication but that changed a short time before this incident occurred.

Judge John Martin said to the former store employee "I can only apologise that that ever happened to you”.

Judge Martin also said that the kick to the head against the doctor "doesn't get much more serious than that in terms of the potential damage”.

The judge noted how the accused was in the grips of a psychotic episode and was taking unprescribed medication on top of his prescription. He also said he can't detain an accused in a mental hospital through the courts.

- Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme