Cork man who smeared faeces on garda station cell wall jailed

A 31-year-old Cork man arrested under the Public Order Act and taken to the cell of a garda station reacted by smearing the walls of the cell with faeces and even using it to write his own name on a wall.

Now at Cork District Court, Roy Cambridge of 178 Silversprings Court, Mayfield, Cork, was jailed for six months for causing this criminal damage.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said: “On September 10, 2023 at 7am, garda Emma McDonald took up duty as member in charge of Mayfield garda station.

“When inspecting the cells and introducing herself to Roy Cambridge who was in custody in Cell No. 3 – detained under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, garda McDonald found that faeces had been smeared on the inside of the inspection hatch on the cell door. The cell had been in clean, working order prior to Roy Cambridge being placed in it.

“Later it was observed that more faeces had been smeared on the cell walls. ‘Roy’ had been written on the fall in faeces also,” Sgt Murphy said.

Judge Mary Dorgan said that because of the nature of the criminal damage and the fact that he had 142 previous convictions – of which six were for causing criminal damage – the judge said she had a 10-month prison sentence in mind.

However, following defence submissions in mitigation by solicitor Frank Buttimer the judge said: “I am going to stick by that 10 months but I will suspend the last four months of that on condition that he complies with an 18-month probation bond, complying with all directions.” 

Mr Buttimer said the 31-year-old was pleading guilty to the criminal damage charge.

“Even though it is a most unpleasant thing, the damage was limited. It was not permanent damage. It was an unpleasant act committed by someone in a state of distress.

“He had a background of addiction issues and mental health difficulties. He had been addicted to Diamorphine and had been on an addiction programme.

“The damage was more in the way of cleaning than actual damage,” Mr Buttimer said.

Judge Dorgan said: “I consider that someone has had to clean up this.”