Jail for man who threw chamber pot of urine at prison officer

Damien Joseph Young, aged 50 and of no fixed abose, was sentenced when he appeared before Limavady Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The court heard the incident occurred on January 21 of this year, at 1.20pm. The officer spoke to Young, saying: “Well Joe.” Young then threw the contents of the chamber pot - urine - towards the officer and it landed on his face, stomach and arm.

The court heard the prison officer attended A&E and received a hepatitis shot. The court also heard that the prison officer attended with his own doctor for blood tests.

After Young was cautioned, he said: “I’m sorry for what I did. I didn’t mean to throw the p*** at the prison officer. I just wanted to get off the block.”

Defence solicitor, Don Mahoney said Young - a remand prisoner - has his difficulties, and would say he finds the sentence at Magilligan Prison “particularly difficult”.

“It was an unpleasant offence, a deeply unpleasant offence. No one is saying it’s not a serious offence,” said Mr. Mahoney, “but he would say he was at the end of his tether.”

Mr. Mahoney said Young had “spent 26 days in segration as a result of this” but, he said, “when you throw the contents of a chamber pot at somebody you are not going to be treated with kid gloves”.

Deputy District Judge Peter King referred to the victim’s impact statement and said it was clear the impact of the incident went beyond the victim, and impacted the wider family circle as well.