Cork man urinated and defecated in Garda station cell in 'particularly disgusting' incident

Accused apologised, saying he 'wasn't very well at the time'

Accused was jailed for five months for causing criminal damage in a Garda station cell.

“Particularly disgusting” criminal damage to a custody cell at a Garda station resulted in a 50-year-old man being jailed for five months.

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed the sentence on Gordon Sherin at Cork District Court.

“I am of the view that this is a particularly disgusting type of incident that unfortunately someone else had to clean up. And there is no prospect of him paying compensation,” Judge Dorgan said.

Sergeant John Kelleher said: “Gordon Sherin was arrested on November 28 2024 at 6.30pm by Garda Shane Hayes for being intoxicated to such an extent that he was a danger to himself or others.

“He was conveyed to Bridewell Garda Station. He was being held until the following morning at Cork District Court because of a bench warrant.

“At approximately 11.30pm, Mr Sheerin urinated at the door of the cell and later attempted to push his own excrement out under the door by use of a sock and a mattress.” 

Sherin, of St Vincent’s Hostel, Anglesea Terrace, Cork, pleaded guilty to causing the criminal damage and as the circumstances were being outlined he said, by video link from prison: “I wasn’t very well at the time. Apologies.” 

He had three previous convictions for causing criminal damage among his 76 previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke said the 50-year-old man had a lot of difficulties in his life but was presently doing well in prison, where he was serving a sentence for a number of thefts.