Cork man with 169 previous convictions smeared faeces on cell door

A Cork man who had 169 previous convictions pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage in relation to an incident in which he smeared his own faeces on a cell door in a Garda station.

Sergeant Majella O’Sullivan told Fermoy District Court that Con Foley, aged 44, with an address at Cork Simon Community, was arrested on August 5, 2025, and taken to Fermoy Garda Station. Foley was placed in cell at the Garda station and on August 6 at 12.30pm, he defecated into a Supermacs' takeaway bag and then smeared the faeces on the cell door and viewing window.

The court heard due to hygiene concerns, thorough cleaning of the door cost €300. The court was told Foley had 169 previous convictions, including four for criminal damage and was also on bail for another offence at the time of the incident.

Defence solicitor David O’Meara said Foley had a series of convictions over the last two years and struggled with serious addiction issues. He said Foley, who appeared by videolink from Cork Prison, where he is currently in custody, was sober in prison and “very calm and apologetic”. Mr O’Meara said Foley’s problems all stemmed from his serious addiction problems.

Judge Colm Roberts said Foley’s behaviour on the day in question was “an insult to himself” as well as an insult to the gardaí on duty. 

He convicted Foley and sentenced him to two months in prison to run consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving. The judge said: “I hope you use the time as well as you can to give yourself a chance in regaining your health.”