Derry Court: Man with 63 previous convictions jailed for criminal damage to hostel

A man with 8 previous convictions for criminal damage and a total of 63 previous convictions has been jailed at Derry Magistrate's Court today on a charge of criminal damage to a glass panel.

Patrick McCallion (32) of no fixed abode admitted a charge of criminal damage to a glass panel in a hostel in Crawford Square.

The court heard that police were called to the hostel and spoke to a member of staff who said a resident, McCallion, had become 'increasingly aggressive'.

He had then punched a hole through a reinforced glass panel in a door causing damage valued at £300.

While police were in attendance they received information that McCallion was at another address and he was seen covered in blood and arrested. 

The glass incident was captured on CCTV. 

When interviewed the defendant said 'I do not deny doing it' but said he could not remember due to his intoxication.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client had entered an early guilty plea. 

He said he had no recollection of the incident but accepts what had been said and added that he 'came off the worst' due to injuries he received.

The solicitor said that his client 'bitterly regrets biting the hand that feeds him' as he was now homeless.

District Judge Oonagh Mullan said that McCallion had 'a poor record' and had only recently been released from prison.

She sentenced him to 4 months in prison and ordered him to pay £300 in compensation.