More jail time after damaging cell awaiting sentencing

A man sentenced to jail for supply of cannabis also caused €300 worth of damage to two police cells and yesterday, prior to sentencing, also caused damage to another cell after claiming he had not been given lunch.

At Clonakilty District Court, Stephen McCarthy, aged 35, of Kilnacranagh West, Enniskeane, Co Cork, faced a charge of sale or supply of cannabis after gardaí had found €500 worth of the drug at his home in a search on October 28.

The drugs were found in a plastic jug. There was 5g of cannabis resin on a bedside locker and a weighing scales. He denied selling drugs.

The court heard that two cells in Bandon Garda Station on the night of his arrest had to be cleaned and fumigated afterwards, costing €300, leading to separate criminal damage charges.

Judge David Waters sentenced him to two months for supplying drugs, then added one month for the first criminal damage charge on the night of October 28 at the station, to be served consecutively. On the second charge of criminal damage the same night, he sentenced him to another month, to be served concurrently, and another month, to be served consecutively, regarding an incident yesterday at Clonakilty Garda Station after his case was heard but before senten-cing had been handed down.

The court heard McCarthy had declined the offer of food but changed his mind later. Gardaí said it was too late before returning him to court. They then found a blanket stuffed down the toilet.