Man jailed after shouting abuse at gardaí in West Cork and defecating in cell

Defendant was found by gardaí 'shouting and roaring' in Bandon and was abusive when they tried to speak to him, court heard

The court was told the defendant had 29 previous convictions, including six for threatening and abusive behaviour, three for assault, two for criminal damage and two for failing to comply with directions. File picture: Dan Linehan

A Donegal man who was arrested for shouting abuse in the street in West Cork and subsequently defecated in a Garda station holding cell pleaded guilty to several charges in the district court.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Bandon District Court the incident occurred in Bandon on April 17, 2026, when gardaí received a report of a man acting in an aggressive manner on South Main St at 6.30pm.

When they arrived at the scene, Damien Doherty, aged 40, from Ballyloskey, Cardonagh, Co Donegal, was “shouting and roaring” and behaving in a way that indicated he was highly intoxicated. Doherty was shouting at a crowd of people in a threatening and abusive way, his eyes were bloodshot, his speech was slurred, and he was unsteady on his feet.

When gardaí tried to speak to him, he shouted: “I’m Irish, where are you from?” He told the gardaí: “You eat babies — Epstein Island c***s.” 

Doherty was deemed to be a danger to himself and to others and was arrested. It took three gardaí to arrest him and he had to be placed on the ground and handcuffed before he could be taken to Bandon Garda Station, where he was placed in a holding cell. At 7.10pm, Doherty defecated on the floor in the cell where he was being held.

The court was told Doherty had 29 previous convictions, including six for threatening and abusive behaviour, three for assault, two for criminal damage, and two for failing to comply with directions.

Éamonn Fleming, defending, said Doherty was extremely drunk and had been drinking all day long on the day in question. He said his client lived a semi-itinerant lifestyle working with a group of builders from Donegal, who moved from job to job around the country.

He said drink played a big part in the group’s way of life, and that the defecation in the cell was most likely due to his extreme intoxication rather than a malicious act. 

He added: “It’s an appalling indictment on any person to deal with officers in that way. He clearly has an alcohol problem and does not recall it.” 

Judge Joanne Carroll asked: “Who is going to pay for cleaning up the cell, where is the remorse, where’s the money to pay for it today?” 

She said: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable. To hurl abuse at gardaí like that is simply outrageous.” 

Doherty was ordered to pay €250 in costs and was sentenced to three months in prison suspended for 18 months for obstruction. He received the same sentence for failing to give his name and address when demanded. 

Charges of threatening and abusive behaviour, public intoxication, and criminal damage were all taken into consideration.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme