Man smeared excrement on walls of cell in Tullamore Garda Station

A man who defecated in a garda cell smearing it on the walls of the cell appeared at last week's sitting of Tullamore District Court.

In his evidence to the court Sergeant Richie Thornton said that on May 3 2022, at 27 Cloncollig Estate,Tullamore, 27 year old Padraig Power, 26, Church View, Tullamore, produced a small handled axe while appearing to be about to assault another person in the course of dispute.

He resisted arrest and was placed in a cell at Tullamore Garda Station where he defecated and spread it on the walls. It cost €300 to have the cell cleaned.

On September 17, 2021 at Chancery Park Court, Chancery Lane, Tullamore, Mr Power handled a green Carter Mountain Bike knowing it was stolen. The bike was recovered.

Mr Power had 35 previous convictions. Solicitor Patrick Martin said the defendant had an appalling record. He said Mr Power has a drug habit. He said the bike was a neighbour's and he was using it more than intending to steal it. He isn't a violent person, said Mr Martin.

His mother was concerned as she felt he was going to self harm. He is now doing quite well. He is almost 12 months out of trouble which is quite long, said Mr Martin. He is in a stable relationship. He has a 4-year-old child from a former relationship and pays €50 a week maintenance.

He lives with his mother who doesn't take any nonsense and has no issue ringing the gardai.

Mr Martin said he wasn't sure a sentence would do him any good. He said this was a dispute between neighbours which got out of hand. He shouldn't have picked up the axe. It wasn't used by him. He doesn't have a history of violence.

On the charge of handling stolen property Judge Andrew Cody imposed a three month sentence which he suspended for three years on the defendant's own bond of €100.

In relation to the axe the Judge said he didn't care who owned it, he imposed a six month sentence which he suspended for three years on the defendant's own bond of €100. This is to run consecutively to the other sentence.

For the offence of damaging the garda cell he fined Mr Power €300 and gave him three months to pay.

He took the offence of resisting arrest into consideration.