Derry Court: Man (60) jailed for criminal damage to sign outside PSNI barracks
McGonagle has 107 previous convictions mostly for 'low level public order offences'
A man has been jailed at Derry Magistrate's Court today after being seen on CCTV tearing down a sign outside the PSNI Station warning that CCTV was in operation.
Patrick McGonagle (60) of Moyola Drive in Derry admitted charges of criminal damage to the sign and disorderly behaviour on June 23 last.
The court heard that the incident occurred outside the Strand Road PSNI Station when the defendant was seen on CCTV making 'a general nuisance.'
He was observed ripping down a metal sign alerting people to CCTV and bending it in half.
He was spoken to by police but refused to take part in a notebook interview.
Defence counsel Michael Donaghey said his client was someone very familiar to the court.
He said he had 107 previous convictions most of them similar to this one of 'low level public order offences.'
The barrister said that McGonagle had a chronic alcohol problem which he hasn't addressed.
The defendant was sentenced to one month in custody.