'Not a teddy bear': Ennis man appears in court for defecating on Cathedral floor

A Probation report is to be prepared in the case of an Ennis man who hassled a priest and Massgoers before defecating on the floor of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.

At a sitting of Ennis District Court, Richard McDermott aged 42 of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage at the Cathedral, which is located at O'Connell Street, Ennis.

Sergeant John Burke said the incident occurred on Wednesday November 12, after gardai were called to the Cathedral amid reports of a group of intoxicated men harassing Massgoers and the parish priest.

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Mr McDermott also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of causing criminal damage by urinating on the floor of a cell at Ennis  garda station, on the same date, following his arrest at the cathedral.

Sgt Burke described how Mr McDermott caused difficulty during his initial arrest and subsequently having to be "man handled" by gardai into a cell.

At the initial incident in the cathedral, Mr McDermott defecated on the floor following the arrival of gardai who were alerted to the disturbance.

He told gardai to "f*** off" and refused to leave the area when directed to do so under public order legislation.

The presiding judge, Alec Gabbett, commented that "Mr McDermott is not a teddy bear" and he sympathised with the local parish priest who would have had to clean the floor.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey, representing Mr McDermott, asked the judge "not to rush judgement" as her client "has Irritable Bowel Syndrome".

She explained: "His bowels are loosened by certain difficulties - he was very drunk on the day."

Ms Godfrey stated that her client's "health has deteriorated considerably" in recent times and that he does not "have the capacity to cope".

She said he had been living in "9am to 9pm accommodation" but that his bed has been allocated to somebody else.

"He finds himself being sensationalised in the public eye and conscience for defecating on the floor of the Cathedral," she said adding that "the shame and public embarrassment is tremendous for Mr McDermott."

Judge Gabbett remanded Mr McDermott in custody until December 10, next to facilitate the completion of a Probation Report.