Man handed two month jail term for Cork city centre assaults

A Garda sergeant who went to the assistance of a person who was assaulted on his way to Mass in Cork city centre was himself assaulted by the attacker and now the culprit has been jailed for two months for both offences.

Mateusz Kowalczyk pleaded guilty to carrying out the two assaults when he appeared before Cork District Court.

The 33-year-old, with an address at Leeside Apartments, Grattan St, Cork, was sentenced by Judge Catherine Ryan at Cork District Court in relation to the assaults and a number of other charges to which he entered guilty pleas.

He admitted being intoxicated to such an extent that he was a danger to himself or others, engaging in threatening behaviour and assaulting a man at Bachelors Quay, Cork, at 7pm on Sunday, August 28. He also pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting and obstructing Sgt John Burke as he was being arrested.

Sgt Gearóid Davis outlined details of what occurred after 7pm on September 28, 2025, at Bachelor’s Quay. “Sgt Burke and Garda Bryan Crowley were informed by a member of the public that a male had assaulted another male at Bachelors Quay, Cork City.

“The suspect was being followed by the assault victim towards the Opera House, Lavitt’s Quay, Cork.

“Sgt Burke and Garda Crowley ran to the Opera House and met the injured party who identified the man who had punched him into the face when he was on his way to mass.

“Sgt Burke and Garda Crowley stopped the male at Lavitt’s Quay, and he immediately punched Sgt Burke with a closed fist into the right cheek of his face. Pepper spray was deployed in order to subdue the suspect who was actively obstructing gardaí. The male was identified as Mateusz Kowalczyk. He was arrested by Garda Crowley.”

Neither injured party required medical treatment.

Diarmuid Kelleher, solicitor, said the accused was originally from Poland but lost his job and he fell into homelessness, exacerbating his alcohol and drug addiction.