A 27-year-old father-of-one from Enniskillen who smeared his faeces across a police cell door and CCTV camera after attacking a barman has been jailed for nine months.
Dominic John McGoldrick, of Cleenish Park, was arrested after he punched bar staff and threatened to kill policemen during a night out in Enniskillen.
McGoldrick, who has been on remand since New Year’s Day, admitted to the litany of offences at Fermanagh court.
He was convicted of common assault, disorderly behaviour on licensed premises, assaulting a police officer, resisting police and criminal damage.
He was handed a four month jail term for these offences while his suspended five month jail sentence was also activated.
At around 11pm on November 19, last year, McGoldrick went to Pat’s Bar in Enniskillen with a number of people.
He got a drink at the bar but was then told by staff that he was barred and to finish his drink and leave.
McGoldrick shouted towards staff who went to speak to him and got off his seat and punched a staff member to his face.
He was restrained by staff who called the police and upon their arrival they spotted the accused being held down by staff while he was moving his arms and legs.
The defendant was drunk and told police he was beaten, however there were no marks on his body.
The injured man explained what happened to the officers and McGoldrick was arrested for common assault.
He became aggressive and got off the seat and made comments to the man he attacked.
The accused then pushed past officers to get at other staff and struck the arresting officer to the right side of his face.
Officers tried to handcuff the defendant but he put up a struggle. He was put into a police vehicle and on the way to the station he threatened both officers.
He continued to behave in this manner at the police station and was placed in a cell. While in the cell he smeared faeces over the door and the CCTV lens. The court was told that it cost almost £20 to clean professionally.
Defence barrister Steffan Rafferty said that his client has issues with alcohol and controlling his temper.
He said: “It started out as a quiet night out with his friends.
He was drinking at Pat’s Bar when unbeknown to him members of staff, who had previously worked in the Devenish where he was barred from, were working there.
He did not know he was barred from Pat’s and it was a shock when he was approached, he thought it without reason.
But how he dealt with that is an entirely different matter.
“He was familiar with this person having been involved in an incident at the Devenish Bar for which he got a suspended sentence in October.
“He didn’t go out seeking trouble, it just so happened they were there,” he added.
“He does have issues with his temper and can overreact at situations. The incident in the cell was simply disgusting behaviour and not something he has done before.
In this incident he felt he was the victim.”
Mr Rafferty added that his client has been involved in some community and voluntary work which has had a positive influence.
He also stated that his girlfriend is pregnant with their first child and is due in August.
“This could be a moment in which he turns his life around,” he added.
However, District Judge Nigel Broderick stated that he has already given McGoldrick two chances and that he chose to “repay that” by committing further offences.
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