A 27-year-old Derry man threw paint over a police station on the day he had been released from prison because he had no money and wanted to be incarcerated again.
Michael McGinley, of no fixed abode, admitted two counts of criminal damage and theft on August 17 of this year, and the same offences on September 4.
The court heard that on August 17 the defendant attended Waterside Police Station where before entering ‘he took a can of paint from a rucksack and threw it over a station wall’ going ‘over a crime stoppers sign’.
After doing it he told security staff he was responsible and also ‘admitted stealing four tins of dog food’ from a shop beforehand and damaging an ATM cash machine on the Trench Road.
A Public Prosecutor said £157 worth of damage was caused at the station and £954 to the cash machine. During police interview McGinley ‘accepted everything’, she added.
The other incident took place on September 4, when it was reported that the 27-year-old had damaged a vending machine and flower pot at Translink railway station. Staff closed the door to stop him from leaving and when police arrived a chair that he used to break the vending machine was lying on the ground. The cost of damage to the chair was said to be £50, and once again the 27-year-old made ‘full admissions’.
Defence barrister Stephen Chapman said his client had been released from prison the same day the first set of offences were committed on August 17 and ‘only had £8’. He was supposed to reside at the Simon Community but said he couldn’t stay there and ‘committed the offences so he could be returned to prison’.
He was then bailed to an address in Bangor which is where he committed the offences on September 4. Mr Chapman said the common feature of his client’s offending is that it’s ‘completely pointless’ and these offences were committed to ‘draw attention to himself’. Deputy District Judge Brian Archer said ‘less destructive offences’ would have ‘made the point’.
Defence Counsel said McGinley has ‘ongoing mental health issues’ and hasn’t been to his doctor to address them.
The custody threshold had been passed, Judge Archer explained, and the 27-year-old who has twenty previous convictions, hasn’t managed to stay ‘out of trouble’ after receiving suspended sentences in the past. The defendant ‘seems to enjoy being sent back to prison’, but he ‘can’t commit offences and cause criminal damage to other people’s property and expect the court to ignore it’, he added.
Sentencing him to six months in prison, suspended for two years, Judge Archer said: “Your fate is in your own hands, you have a supportive family, take their advice and seek the help you need. I’m giving you an opportunity, take it.”
McGinley was also fined £20 and ordered to pay compensation to those concerned of £50, £157.37, and £300 towards the ATM machine.
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.