A court has heard a Donegal man spat at police and urinated in police cells following his arrest.

At Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday, it was heard that police received a report of a male at the 24-hour shop on Queen Street, Enniskillen at around 2am on August 16 last, who was drunk and was telling people he had stolen a car and dog.

Police located the vehicle and the dog and requested a specimen of breath from the driver, Eunan McGrath (47), of Ernedale, Ballyshannon, which he refused to provide.

He was arrested and taken to Omagh Police Station, during which time he spat twice at a police officer.

At the station, he was given the opportunity to provide a specimen, while he also urinated in two different police cells.

No licence or insurance

Checks showed the defendant owned the car and dog, but the number plate on the vehicle was not linked to it or McGrath. It was also found he was a disqualified driver in the Republic and was driving with no licence or insurance.

Police contacted the person registered to the number plate, who told them it had fallen off their vehicle.

During interview, McGrath said he had been drinking and when asked how much he had consumed he did not know but he had “drank a lot”.

Fergal Logan, solicitor for McGrath, told the court the defendant was a man well into his 40s who, through a combination of “ill health and alcohol left himself in a difficult and embarrassing position”.

Mr. Logan said McGrath had gone to speak to an uncle in Enniskillen as he was feeling vulnerable.

He said McGrath had picked up the number plate on the side of the road and stuck it on his vehicle.

Mr. Logan asked the court to give his client benefit and he was going through a difficult phase in his life.

McGrath was convicted of using a motor vehicle without insurance, no driving licence, failing to provide a specimen, fraud use of a vehicle registration mark and criminal damage.

District Judge Steven Keown told McGrath he hoped he will get the assistance he needs for the issues he has.

McGrath was disqualified from driving for three years and fined a total of £750.