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‘Very drunk’ man urinated on garda car outside station, court told

Judge Bryan Smyth spared him a conviction when he admitted the offence and paid for the €20 clean-up, as well as €200 as a charity donation.

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A man caught urinating on a garda patrol car was very drunk at the time and did not remember doing it, a court heard.

Claudiu Damian (38) was spotted by officers on duty as he relieved himself on the squad car near a Dublin city garda station.

Judge Bryan Smyth spared him a conviction when he admitted the offence and paid for the €20 clean-up, as well as €200 as a charity donation.

Damian, with an address at Parnell Street East, pleaded guilty to criminal damage in the incident.

The judge dismissed the charge under the Probation Act.

Dublin District Court heard a garda driving on Fitzgibbon Street on September 26 this year saw the accused urinating on the passenger side of a marked garda car.

The car was attached to Fitzgibbon Street station.

The accused was arrested, taken to the garda station and charged.

Damian had two previous convictions, for driving under the influence, but had none for criminal damage and had never been given the benefit of the Probation Act before.

The accused had been “very, very drunk” on the day and “doesn’t remember an awful lot of it,” his solicitor Donal Quigley said. A friend had been with him and relayed what happened.

Drink appeared to be an issue given the accused’s previous convictions, the court heard.

Damian was apologetic and wanted to avoid a criminal damage conviction. He had brought money to court to offer as a charity donation.