A 34-year-old man who stole a bottle of wine and then urinated in a Garda cell was before Castlebar District Court on Wednesday.
Gardai were called to Dunnes Stores on May 9 2012 after Martin Rice, who is now residing at Broadview House, Cultrasna, Kiltimagh, placed a bottle of €7 Sutter Home red wine into his jacket and left the store. Rice was intoxicated when gardaí located him and he was arrested for being drunk in a public place. At Castlebar Garda Station he urinated in a cell.
Rice, who has 45 previous convictions, has a partner and looks after his two children and three step-children. Since 2008 he has stayed out of trouble as he stopped drinking, however he “went on a five day bender” from May 5—this was his step-daughter’s Communion.
Rice told the court that he was “so, so, ashamed of his actions”. Judge Mary Devins told him to “stop wallowing in your self-pity” and said that “I can’t believe you left that daughter with such memories of her First Communion.”
Judge Mary Devins remanded him in custody to Ballina District Court on May 22 for sentencing.
