Man accused of defecating in garda station cell had no recollection of it

A man in his 30s accused of defecating all over the inside of a custody cell at Mullingar Garda Station has been banned from the town as part of his bail conditions.

Patrick Ferguson (38) 114 Greenhills Estate, Ballina, Mayo, appeared at Mullingar District Court last week charged with criminal damage and two counts of public order following an alleged incident at Bloomfield House Hotel on January 15.

The wording of the criminal damage charge that led to a €500 clean-up bill alleges that Mr Ferguson “defecated on the cell floor, cell wall and cell door” at Mullingar Garda Station.

Garda Mervyn Henson gave evidence of having arrested and later charging the accused. He said Mr Ferguson’s reply after caution was: “If I did it, I am sorry. I have no recollection of it. I am sorry.”

In defence, solicitor Louis Kiernan said Mr Ferguson had come down to Mullingar the previous evening with his parents and because he has two children living locally.

He said the accused had “got into difficulty” and “in the station” in noting the criminal damage charge and was awaiting a residential place in Coolmine, a national drug and alcohol treatment centre.

In view of that, Mr Kiernan asked for a short adjournment as details concerning two guilty pleas to a public order disturbance the accused was involved in on October 9 last year were heard.

Sgt Sheila Kenny said that incident took place at the Greville Arms Hotel, Pearse Street, Mullingar just after 2am.

She said gardaí had been called in response to the “severe annoyance” Mr Ferguson had been causing a member of staff when he was refused alcohol in the residents bar.

Sgt Kenny said Mr Ferguson continued “roaring and shouting” and banged on the bedroom doors of other residents.

The court was told the accused had 10 previous convictions, which included offences for road traffic matters.

Judge Bernadette Owens directed a probation report and remanded Mr Ferguson on bail to March 12; the state was given liberty to re-enter the case in the intervening period.

As part of Mr Ferguson’s bail conditions for the three most recent charges before the court, he was ordered to stay out of Mullingar except for designated court appearances.