Defecated in garda cell

A MAN, who left gardaí with a €200 cleaning bill after defecating in a cell, was given a two-month prison sentence for an earlier public order offence when the matter came before Monaghan District Court.

Tyrone McCann (26) of Mullaghmatt, Monaghan Town, pleaded guilty to causing damage at Monaghan Garda Station as a result of this action on June 3 last, as well as to having been intoxicated and engaging in abusive behaviour in the Mullaghmatt estate earlier on the same date.

McCann, who appeared by video link from Castlerea Prison, also admitted to stealing a bottle of vodka from Tesco, Monaghan Shopping Centre on May 13 gone by. A concurrent three-month sentence was imposed on him for this offence.

Speaking from the prison, the defendant admitted his guilt and said he was keen to have all matters dealt with straight away, as his infant daughter was due to be christened soon.

In relation to the theft, Sergeant Lisa McEntee said a report had been received of a man who entered the Tesco store at 2:50pm that afternoon and left without paying for a bottle of vodka worth €25.

He had been intercepted by security and the item was recovered. He managed to run away, however, and was later identified through CCTV footage.

In relation to the events that culminated in the defecating incident at Monaghan Garda Station, Sgt McEntee said there was a report about a “large fight” at Mullaghmatt at about 4:20pm on Wednesday June 3.

When gardaí went to the location there was no sign of a fight, but they observed Mr McCann. He first tried to evade the officers, then became threatening and abusive towards them while slurring his words and stumbling on his feet.

McCann was arrested and, while in custody at Monaghan Garda Station, defecated in the cell, the sergeant recalled. He had to be physically restrained, and was also pepper sprayed, she added.

180 previous convictions

Judge Patricia Cronin was told the defendant had 180 previous convictions, including 30 for criminal damage, 16 for thefts, 35 for threatening and abusive behaviour and 50 for public intoxication.

In September 2025, he was given consecutive prison sentences coming to eight months for a series of offences including three thefts and four public order breaches.

Solicitor Niall Fox said his client was well known to the court. He had a four-year-old son, and a new baby girl aged 11 weeks. Mr McCann’s core issue was alcohol, the lawyer stressed.

“I think he’s coming around to realising that he does need to get help,” Mr Fox stressed. He said his client had been seeing a counsellor in recent times and was hoping to be admitted to a rehabilitation programme.

In relation to the incidents on June 3, Mr Fox said he was shown videos, and that his client had in fact been seriously assaulted on that day. This was evident in the black eye that could still be seen on Mr McCann, he pointed out. It appeared that somebody called the gardaí with a view to getting help for his client, and that when they arrived “everybody had scattered”.

It was accepted that he was intoxicated and had, unfortunately, “reacted badly" when gardaí arrived.

Mr Fox finished by expressing the view that another short prison sentence would be of little assistance to Tyrone, and that being linked to the Probation Service, or availing of rehab, might be preferable in terms of getting him help.

Judge Cronin told Mr Fox she appreciated what he was saying and would give credit for the pleas that were entered. She noted that the court was being asked to consider a probation report and community service, but said that with 180 previous convictions at 26 years of age, she did not consider this an appropriate course.

Instead, she imposed three months’ imprisonment for the vodka theft in May, backdating this to June 4 when McCann was taken into custody. She advised that, while in prison, the defendant should seek some provision for his alcohol addiction upon release.

Regarding the incidents in Mullaghmatt and at the Garda station on June 3, the judge handed down a concurrent two-month sentence for the abusive behaviour, again backdating it to June 4. The damage to the cell in the station was taken into consideration, as was the intoxication charge.

Recognisances were fixed in the event of any appeal.