Criminal damage

Kevin Downey of Bracken Park was ejected from Limavady’s bus station by police after Translink staff reported Downey “causing a nuisance” on August 13 last year. Downey was refused entry onto a bus travelling to Londonderry because he was intoxicated. Police spoke to him and left. Approximately one hour and twenty-five minutes later police again received a report from staff at the bus depot that Downey had damaged a public phone box. On arrival officers noted that the headset was smashed.

Downey had left the scene but was found a short distance away after staff gave a description of the 20-year-old and the direction he was travelling. He was arrested and in interview admitted to damaging the phone box “in temper”. A PPS solicitor told the court BT estimated the damage to be around 145.67. Looking at Downey’s record, Deputy District Judge Dunlop commented that the 20-year-old seemed to “specialize” in criminal damage. His solicitor told the court: “He is still only 20 years of age. All the rest of these (convictions) seem to be associated with either assault, aggravated taking away or theft. But this criminal damage is on its own.”

He added that police took Downey back to Lononderry that morning. Judge Dunlop ordered Downey to pay a restitution order in the sum of damages and imprisoned him for two months.