He caused more than £1,000 damage to performers’ clothing left ripped, stained and smelling of urine, prosecutors said
14:42, 24 Apr 2026
(Image: Union Street Bar and Restaurant )
An intruder who spent hours trying on assorted drag queen costumes in a Belfast city centre venue has been jailed for seven months.
Gvidas Malinauskas, 42, repeatedly entered a dressing room at the Union Street Bar to dress up in wigs, boots and catsuits.
He caused more than £1,000 damage to performers’ clothing left ripped, stained and smelling of urine, prosecutors said.
Malinauskas, a Lithuanian national of no fixed abode, admitted charges of burglary with intent to steal and criminal damage.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard police were alerted after staff at the venue on Union Street discovered an unknown man in a drag queen dressing room on September 21 last year.
CCTV checks showed Malinauskas entering the bar through an unlocked front door at around 9am that morning.
He went upstairs into the dressing room, remaining in the area until he initially left just after midday.
“He was wearing a white fluffy coat, pink boots and a long wig,” a Public Prosecution Service lawyer said.
About an hour later the defendant was observed back in the same area of the premises.
He was still in the same boots but had changed into a beige catsuit, the court heard.
Malinauskas returned to the dressing room a short time later to put on another costume.
“He left wearing a blue body suit and blonde wig,” the prosecutor added.
Later that afternoon one of the drag queen performers found the defendant back in the dressing room.
By that stage he had a black catsuit around his knees, matching it with a pink fluffy top and a red wig.
The performer left the area to alert the manager of the bar.
When they returned to the dressing room Malinauskas had changed back into his own clothes and immediately left the building without making any comment.
Members of staff carried out inspections, locating the multiple costumes worn by the intruder.
“Some of the items appeared to be wet, there was a smell of urine and stains on the clothing, and some were also ripped,” the prosecutor said.
The total damage caused to the drag queen outfits has been assessed at just under £1,100 in value.
Defence counsel Chris Sherrard indicated Malinauskas was so drunk he could not understand his reasons for being in the bar.
“There is no suggestion his actions were motivated by hostility against any of the performers at the Union Bar on the basis of (sexual) orientation,” the barrister stressed.
Despite recognising his client must be punished for the unacceptable behaviour, Mr Sherrard argued he has been in custody on remand since the incident.
It was also disclosed that the defendant is currently facing separate extradition proceedings in connection with alleged dishonesty offences in his native Lithuania.
Imposing a seven-month prison sentence, District Judge George Conner said: “I give credit for the (guilty) plea, and for the clear record.”
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