Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 17977Criminal damage; intoxication in a public place · Co. Laois · 8 Jan 2024

Man admits urinating in Portlaoise Garda Station cell

Gardaí said Lee Dennehy, 22, of Rossvale, Portlaoise, urinated all over a cell at Portlaoise Garda Station on 8 January 2024, and a cleaner had to clean it. He was arrested on 19 February 2024 for being drunk and a danger to himself, and he admitted being intoxicated in public at Clonroosk Little that day. His solicitor, Philip Meagher, said he would plead guilty to criminal damage and public intoxication at Portlaoise District Court, as reported in March 2024. The judge adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on 13 May, and no sentence for these offences is reported yet.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court8 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí said Dennehy urinated all over a garda cell and a cleaner had to clean it.
Where
  • The criminal damage happened at Portlaoise Garda Station.
  • The public intoxication happened at Clonroosk Little.
When
  • The criminal damage happened on 8 January 2024.
  • The public intoxication happened on 19 February 2024.
Investigation
Dennehy was arrested on 19 February for being drunk and a danger to himself.
Charges
Dennehy admitted criminal damage at Portlaoise Garda Station and intoxication in public.
In court
  • Solicitor Philip Meagher said Dennehy would plead guilty to both offences at Portlaoise District Court.
  • The judge adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on 13 May. One source dates the court report 8 March 2024 and another 10 March 2024.
Sentence
Gardaí said Dennehy has nine previous convictions and a suspended six-month sentence from last December.
Other details
  • Gardaí said the soilage charge for cleaning the cell was €200.
  • A separate 2023 robbery case involving the same man is a different incident.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHe urinated all over a garda cell and a cleaner had to clean it. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe criminal damage was at Portlaoise Garda Station. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe criminal damage happened on 8 January 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationHe was arrested for being drunk and a danger to himself on 19 February. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHe admitted being intoxicated in public at Clonroosk Little on 19 February. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtHis solicitor, Philip Meagher, said he was pleading guilty to both offences. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on 13 May. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherGardaí said he had nine previous convictions and a suspended six-month sentence from last December. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherGardaí said the soilage charge for cleaning the cell was €200. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Mar2024
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Man used Portlaoise Garda Station cell as toilet

    Reports Dennehy's guilty admissions at Portlaoise District Court to criminal damage at Portlaoise Garda Station on 8 January 2024 and public intoxication on 19 February 2024. This is a different incident from the 2023 robbery case (17059) involving the same man.

    accused, Lee Dennehy, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Lee Dennehy