A 34-year-old man, who after a five day bender stole a bottle of wine and urinated in a Garda cell, was given a suspended sentence at Tuesday’s district court in Ballina.
At Castlebar District Court last week it was outlined that gardaí were called to Dunnes Stores on May 9 2012 after Martin Rice, 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 stepchildren. He “went on a five day bender” from May 5 — this was his stepdaughter’s Communion.
Judge Mary Devins remanded him in custody to Ballina District Court on Tuesday, where the judge said that she would be prepared to give him a suspended sentence if the defendant presented himself at the Garda station to swab out all the cell floors, however Garda headquarters were contacted and due to “duty of care” this cannot be carried out. Judge Devins said that the defendant must write a letter of apology to the person who had to clean up his urine and must also contribute €100 towards the cost of the clean up.
For the section two criminal damage to the cell he was convicted and sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for 12 months. The theft and public order charges were taken into consideration.
