A DUBLIN man smeared excrement all over the walls of a garda cell after he was arrested, a court heard.

Greg Horan (26) was ordered to carry out 140 hours community service instead of a four-month sentence.

Horan, of Sycamore View, Castleknock, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage at Mountjoy Garda Station on July 24, 2012.

The court heard the accused had been arrested and placed in a cell when he defecated and smeared excrement all over the walls.

CLEANED

This had to be cleaned at a cost to the State of €32.

Horan had previous convictions for offences including criminal damage.

The accused had been out drinking with friends before the incident and had taken drugs, his solicitor Matthew de Courcy said.

He accepted his behaviour had been "disgusting" but it was out of character for him.

He apologised and had €50 to offer the court.

"He is quite embarrassed about the facts," Mr de Courcy said.

"I think anybody would be," Judge Bryan Smyth replied. "It is a very disgusting act."

hnews@herald.ie