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A CONVICTED killer, who began eating his own faeces after he was arrested for trying to attack a garda at a Dublin station, has been sentenced to 160 hours of community service.
Mark Bissett’s “bizarre behaviour” happened when he turned violent during a drink and drug fuelled outburst at Store Street Garda station in the city-centre. In another incident he attacked shop worker after hurling racial abuse at him.
Judge Bryan Smyth had heard at Dublin District Court Court that Bissett has attended a residential drug rehabilitation programme. He was furnished with a probation report and finalised the case today ordering Bissett to carry out 160 hours of community service in lieu of an eight-month prison sentence.
Bissett (31) from Loughlinstown Park, in Loughlinstown, Dublin, was jailed for six years in 2005 for killing his uncle David Sutherland in Sallynoggin, Dublin, on 20 December, 2003. Mr Sutherland (54), from Ballybrack, Dublin, was beaten and kicked to death in a drunken row following an accusation by Bissett that Sutherland had killed his aunt.
In his district court case, Bissett pleaded guilty to breach of the peace, being intoxicated to such an extent he was a danger to himself and others, criminal damage and violent behaviour at Store Street Garda station, on 3 March and 18 March last.
Aggressive
Garda James Seymour gave evidence earlier that on 3 March last, Bissett, who has 47 prior criminal convictions, was acting aggressively at the front counter in the station.
The father-of-three attempted to assault the sergeant in charge and he struck Garda Seymour and his colleagues. Garda Seymour had to strike him twice with his baton before they placed him in a cell.
Bissett defecated in the cells and “consumed his own faeces” causing a health hazard and damage to cell walls which were covered with excrement and had to be cleaned at a cost of €400.
On 18 March last, Bissett returned to the station in an intoxicated state and lay on the floor. When asked to leave he began hurling abuse at gardai calling them “faggots and c***s”.
The court was given a breakdown of his criminal record: 26 convictions for breach of the peace and being drunk in public; one for obstructing a drug search; one for affray; two for possessing knives; two minor assaults, one for assault causing harm, another for assaulting a garda, three thefts; five robberies; one conviction for manslaughter, one for failing to comply with a Garda’s public order caution to leave the vicinity and two for criminal damage.
Defence counsel Emmet Nolan had said his client now has mental health issues but is aware that his “bizarre behaviour” at the Garda station was unacceptable. He had taken a large quantity of benzodiazepine tablets and alcohol and has no recollection of the incident but is deeply ashamed, the barrister said.
The court was told he has little contact with family and he left school at the age of 13.
The barrister had said Bissett was using hostels from the age of 15 and became addicted to benzodiazepine and alcohol. However he had been given a placement in a residential treatment centre for his addiction issues.
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I refused to give up my seat yesterday and got nothing but daggers from everyone else… Its not my fault she got pregnant!
I think its important to remember Claudette Colvin, who history has forgotten in relation to this story. Read her story.
Thanks for the info. Didn’t know that.
Meanderings, I didn’t know that piece of information. Cheers.
Meanderings , I also never knew that , fair play .
@Meanderings, thanks for your mention of Claudette. It appears her age, her colour(pigmentocracy) and her circumstance went against her. Its a sad indictment that she was never truly recognised as the first to stand up to the bus segregation in Al . Even today most of her work colleagues in NY dont know her story.
Totally right. The whole boycott is a tremendous story, and although Parks was pivotal, it was kind of a planned pivot. Colvin didn’t fit the bill they needed to really make headlines, make a stand and propel the cause forward, a sad reality. Parks was well known and respected in the community and they knew people would get behind her and that her story would make a real impact. I always tell people to read up on the Montgomery bus boycott whenever they mention Parks, to get them to see the whole picture. And there are so many other nuances to the civil rights movement that most folks aren’t aware of – some of which makes current tensions in certain US states a bit clearer. Fascinating stuff.
You have opened my eyes to something I never knew! I’m actually amazed at how they engineered it that Parks was the heroine because she fit the profile better.
If it was today she probably would’ve been shot
Doubt it but she would be all over Buzzfeed.
Such dignity & class. Wonder if our water warriors could learn a trick or two.
How about the pink ladies who stood in a line outside the garda station in coolock to highlight the abuse of woman by guards, pretty peaceful by any standards and the guards were peeping out the Windows like cowards at them, great community relations altogether.
Brave lady who helped change history and sounded quite stoical about to boot!
In America the percentage of African Americans unemployed is much higher than amongst the White community. Black politicians are rare and ones occupying positions of power even rarer(Obama being the exception). The booming IT market is run by predominantly white men and Silicon Valley has recently being charged with institutionalised racism. Every major American city has large communities of African Americans living in extreme poverty and let’s not forget that the police think that being black is reason enough to shoot on sight. So let’s ask the question; what has really changed for African Americans since Rosa Parks made her stand?
Hard to believe that the same country, the USA, was trying to transplant its so called version of democracy around the globe and yet did not afford its coloured citizens the same privileges. Makes you wonder!
The sad thing is that I could easily imagine our own guards doing exactly the same thing, “just following the law” I reckon a requirement of being a guard us that you have to be clueless.
I think ‘just following orders ‘is the mantra. The nazis said the same thing.
In fairness the cop was thinking that if he didn’t arrest her he was fit to be lynched himself.
Thankfully keelan some people don’t care about the consequences. Look up a guy called Wilhelm canaris, a nazi general who thwarted Hitler whenever he could.
Keelan that’s exactly my point, the govt hire people with no moral compass, why do you think Ireland’s always been such an insular society.
So cupid you would only inforce laws you agreed with??
Sometimes mark you have to do the right thing. You should never just accept what you’re told blindly!
Again are you saying you would only inforce laws you wanted too? Cupids comment was about ireland, what laws would he not inforce in Ireland?
The nazis weren’t racist. Hitler had black and chinese men in his armies. At the olympics in 1936 hitler was respectful of the black athletes when the yanks weren’t.
While the US wanted us to believe it was an open and fair society as opposed to the communists is Russia in the 50′s, it was a racist and apartheid one until President JFK. Guess what, Kennedy was assassinated and the racism there still continues. Here in racist Ireland we are no better with our No Blacks, no Dogs and now no Muslims ..anyone here with an open mind want to discuss this issue?
Sure the feckers went and shot black Friday last week
lol, I don’t think you can just say blacks. Maybe the black population of…
It
You make a compelling argument Deborah
Harsh but fair.
It’s gas, when I first heard of her it was 40 years ago. Soon it will be 100.
have your say