Man held for stripping in court

A Polish man who was unable to keep his clothes on yesterday at Cork District Court was remanded in custody for a week for a psychiatric assessment.

When Borris Sztukiewicz was brought from the holding cell into Courtroom 1, where the court was in session, he pulled down his jeans and underpants.

He was about to pull off his sweatshirt too when a number of gardaí overpowered him and brought him to the floor, put his clothes back on, and escorted him from the court.

Sztukiewicz was brought back to court later in handcuffs.

Judge John King remembered the homeless Polish man from his appearance in court on Monday, when he left the court saying that he was off to join the Irish Army.

Judge King remanded Sztukiewicz in custody yesterday for one week and directed the prison governor to have the homeless 27-year-old psychiatrically assessed.

Sztukiewicz was before the court charged with public order offences relating to his alleged refusal to leave the Mercy University Hospital on Tuesday where he had been sent for another psychiatric assessment.

On Monday it emerged that he had gone to the Bridewell Garda Station just to get arrested to get off the streets.

He went there on September 9, when he walked into the Bridewell and then ran towards the cell area, which is off limits to members of the public calling into the station.

Sztukiewicz was released but returned to do the same thing shortly afterwards.

During yesterday’s court case, Eddie Burke, defending, said of Sztukiewicz: “He has a difficulty keeping his clothes on.”

Mr Burke said the defendant was not applying for bail yesterday. He suggested the accused was mentally fit to deal with his case but had a peculiarly single-minded way of approaching his problems.