Man urinated and put bus out of service

Gerard Patrick Mullen, whose address was given on court papers as no fixed abode, is charged with causing damage to a Translink bus on April 29.

He is further charged with indecent behaviour.

Londonderry Magistrates’ Court heard allegations that the 29-year-old was travelling to the city from Belfast when he dropped his trousers and began urinating in front of other passengers.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) were called and arrested Mullen when the bus arrived in the local depot at Foyle Street, the court was told.

It is alleged officers also viewed CCTV of the incident and identified Mullen committing the offences.

Londonderry Magistrates’ Court heard that the bus had to be removed from that day’s service and was cleaned at a cost of £100.

Opposing bail, an investigating officer said Mullen has 84 previous convictions and was only released on bail for other offences last week.

Defence solicitor Richard Campbell told the court his client admitted being a passenger on the bus but denies urinating in it.

He said Mullen had been seeking help for addiction issues but ‘suffered a relapse’.

District Judge John Meehan refused bail because Mullen had shown himself to be ‘incapable of abiding by bail conditions’.

He added there was a risk of re-offending.

Mullen was remanded in custody to appear in court again on May 14.