Jail term for man who smeared faeces, blood and urine all over Garda cell
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A man stripped naked and smeared faeces, blood, and urine all over a Garda station cell.
Jurijus Miezonis, aged 38, formerly of Chamber Court, Castlebar, but now residing in Ballinrobe, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to criminal damage. Other charges, including the assault of a Garda, were taken into consideration.
The court heard that Gardaí were called to a disturbance at an apartment in Chamber Court at 1.20am on June 22, 2022.
Miezonis had split up from his partner but they continued to live together. He had returned from a night drinking elsewhere and became angry when he believed some of his property had been moved. He punched a wall so hard he put a hole in it. A two-and-a-half-year-old child was present at the time.
The accused was highly intoxicated and had blood on his knuckles when Gardaí arrived.
Officers persuaded Miezonis to pack a bag and stay elsewhere. A Garda went into his bedroom with him and saw white powder on a locker. Miezonis said it was amphetamines and rubbed some in his mouth laughing as he did so. He attempted to pack a knuckle duster but this was seized by Gardaí.
The Lithuanian national left the scene but returned a short time later in a highly agitated state. He was aggressive and abusive and told Gardaí: “You’re not going to arrest me.”
Miezonis had to be restained and he struck one of the Gardaí with his head injuring the officers cheekbone. He continued to struggle and kicked a garda while in the patrol car.
He was taken to Castlebar Garda Station and put in a cell. The accused stripped naked and banged his head off the cell door with a doctor having to be called for. Miezonis then defecated and smeared excrement, urine and blood in the cell.
The cell had to be specially cleaned at a cost of €283. Miezonis later offered to clean the cell when the effects of the alcohol and drugs he consumed lessened.
The accused has 13 previous convictions. The father-of-three works for a window company.
Barrister Patrick Murphy said his client had a strong work record for many years before his alcohol abuse took over. He said Miezonis became addicted to amphetamines as they were cheaper than cocaine.
The court heard the accused had missed or turned up drunk for appointments with the Probation Service before his case was heard last week.
“This man has disdain for the system,” said Judge Eoin Garavan before jailing him for three years.
