‘Too dangerous’ to be brought to court
Scottish legal history was made at Perth Sheriff Court when a convicted murderer was sentenced, in his absence, for twice trashing his prison cells, causing more than £4000 worth of damage.
Thirty-year-old Adam Gallagher appeared via video link before Sheriff Robert McFarlane.
A sheriff had earlier ruled he was “too dangerous”to be brought to court because of his history of offending while in custody.
Gallagher has a long history of disruptive behaviour since being jailed for the murder of 21-year-old Czech fruit picker Marek Smrz in Arbroath in 2006.
He has been convicted of nine separate prison-based offences including assault, vandalism and setting fire to cells - since being locked up for life in 2007.
He admitted two charges of wrecking cells at Perth Prison - on April 21, 2016, and again two months later, on June 13.
He had not guilty pleas accepted to further charges of vandalising another cell at the Edinburgh Road jail on April 18, 2016, and damaging a cell below the Perth court building the following day by repeatedly striking a CCTV camera and lighting.
Depute fiscal John Malpass told the court that damage following the April 21 outburst was put at £2242.30.
It involved him destroying light fittings, ripping sockets from walls and bolted seats from the floor, as well as venting his anger on the cell door spy glass and damaging the walls.
Mr Malpass said prison officers spent two hours trying to calm him down before he was taken to another cell.
That caused disruption to other prison inmates as they dealt with the accused.
The June 13 incident cost damage totalling an estimated £1907 as he destroyed light fittings, wall sockets, fixed furniture and the spy hole.
Solicitor Kevin McCarron told the court:“It’s fair to say he’s been a difficult prisoner for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to manage.
“He has anger management issues and has instructed me to apologise for his behaviour.
His client had a“particularly short fuse”and his behaviour had resulted in him being confined in the segregation unit and denied various privileges.
He hoped to be considered for parole in 2020 and had“issues”with the SPS regarding his programme needs.
The accused said during the video link-up he had been asking to be put on various courses for“at least seven years”but none of his requests had been granted.
Gallagher, who is set to be transferred to Glenochil Prison, was jailed for 163 days on each of the two charges, to be served consecutive to his present sentence.
Heroin addict Gallagher was given the life sentence at Aberdeen High Court in January 2006, after stabbing the 21-year-old fruit picker.
The accused and his former girlfriend Hazel Dryden (18) found him collapsed on the ground near a pub in Arbroath’s Marketgate area.
Ms Dryden stole Mr Smrz’s wallet before witnessing a scuffle between the two men.
Gallagher then plunged the steak knife into the victim’s heart before running off with his girlfriend, leaving Mr Smrz bleeding to death in the street.