Month: October 2014

A 20-YEAR-old man who pleaded guilty to handling manhole covers stolen from the M18 motorway has been told he may face a lengthy prison sentence.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan said he is considering imposing a jail term on Jonathan Shane O’Donoghue.

Mr O’Donoghue, with an address at Bog Road, Tulla pleaded guilty earlier this month to handling 15 stolen manhole covers near Tubber on March 5, 201

Giving evidence in court two weeks ago, Garda Caitrìona Mangan of Ennis Garda Station told she received a report of suspicious activity involving a van and two people.

Garda Mangan said at the motorway near Tubber she observed the accused lift and place a manhole cover into a van.

Garda Mangan said she saw 15 manhole covers in the back of the van.

The court heard the items were worth € 3750.

Judge Patrick Durcan put it to Garda Mangan, “you caught him red-handed basically”.

The court heard Mr O’Donoghue claimed to gardaí he met a man at the side of the motorway near Limerick who told him he could have all the manhole covers on the motorway between Ennis and Gort.

Mr O’Donoghue says he paid € 110 for the covers.

He has two previous convictions for public order and road traff c offenc es.

Judge Patrick Durcan said Mr O’Donoghue engaged in the most “audacious type of criminality” when he was caught with the stolen manhole covers.

However he said the accused was a person of limited education who had very little previous convictions. “There is a diff culty in sentencing” the Judge said.

Judge Durcan said he required time to consider the case further.

He remanded Mr O’Donoghue on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Last week, Judge Durcan further adjourned sentencing.

He ordered a probation report and remanded Mr O’Donoghue on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on November 19. The judge said this was a case that “troubled” him as regards to sentencing. He sad the accused “essentially” has no previous convictions.

However he said he was considering a “lengthy” prison sentence “by virtue of the nature and organised nature” of the offence.

A FORMER Irish international snooker player who a Judge said could go all the way to the world championships has been sentenced to six months in prison.

Bernard Casey (25) received the jail term after pleading guilty to theft and public order related offences.

After being told the former Irish youth international snooker player is back playing snooker Judge Patrick Durcan said “he could end up at the Crucible or anywhere”.

But addressing the accused’s solicitor, Judge Durcan said, “However the other side of the coin is that your client engaged in the most serious criminal behaviour.”

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Mr Casey, with an address at St Joseph’s Park Nenagh, Tipperary, pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Canon camera at Emerald House, Toberteascain, Ennis on June 20, 2014. Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court Mr Casey was arrested after it was discovered he had tendered the stolen camera to a property exchange outlet in Ennis.

Mr Casey also pleaded guilty to engaging in behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace at Station Road, Ennis, on June 21.

Insp Kennedy said gardaí found Mr Casey in an intoxicated state. The court heard he and a group of people were causing a disturbance. Insp. Kennedy said the accused turned his attention on one Garda and called him a “dirty f****** scumbag”.

Mr Casey also pleaded guilty to a public intoxication offence in Shannon town centre on July 31.

Mr Casey has 41 previous convictions including for public order and theft offences. Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client is a father of two who left school at the age of 16.

She said Mr Casey has suffered from serious drink and depression problems for most of his life. She told the court Mr Casey said he bought the stolen camera for € 30 from a man in a homeless hostel.

Ms. Godfrey said her client is “very apologetic”. She said Mr. Casey iscurrently clean and sober and doing his best to avoid the triggers that lead to criminal behaviour.

Ms. Godfrey told the court her client represented Ireland in snooker and is back playing the game.

Mr. Casey told the court he has not drank alcohol in f ve weeks. Ad dressing the Judge, he said;

“If you give me an auld chance today, I promise to God you won’t see me in this court again or around Ennis again”.

Judge Durcan said this was a diff cult case. He said the court, on the one hand, had to consider the diff culties Mr Casey has experienced. He noted the accused also has a young family.

“However the other side of this coin is that your client engaged in the most serious criminal behaviour”.

Judge Durcan said there would be no market for stolen goods if people were not willing to handle stolen goods. “Those who handle commit a far more serious offence than those who steal”, he added.

“Someone who engages in the handling of stolen property, in my view, engages in the most terrible criminal behaviour”, the Judge said.

Judge Durcan imposed sentences totalling six months and f ned Mr Casey € 200. Addressing. Ms. Godfrey, Judge Durcan said, “I do hope when your client comes out again he will have found his time in prison benef cial”. In the event of an ap peal, recognizances were f xed at Mr Casey’s own bond of € 250 and an independent surety to be approved by the court of € 500.

A MAN has appeared in court charged with stealing a woman’s handbag at a shopping centre in Shannon.

Patrick Kinnane (31) with an address at Galvone Road, Kennedy Park, Limerick, is accused of stealing a hand bag and a wallet containing € 30 at Lidl, Tullyvarraga, Shannon on September 24.

Mr. Kinnane appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Inspector Tom Kennedy handed a schedule of the arrest, charge and caution of Mr. Kinnane to the court.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett asked that his client not be put on his election at this stage in proceedings. Mr Kinnane can elect to have his case heard in the District Court or tried before a Judge and jury in the Circuit Court.

Mr Hassett said he required time to seek disclosure from the State. Judge Patrick Durcan adjourned the case to November when the issue of court jurisdiction will be determined.

The accused is also expected to indicate how he intends pleading to the charge at the next court date.

Mr Kinnane was remanded on bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on November 19.

John Doherty, who previously lived in Ennis but now has an address at Belcamp Lawn, Coolock, Dublin, is charged with two offences. Mr Doherty is accused of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace may be occasioned. He is further charged with assault. It is alleged Mr Doherty committed the offences at Ennis Courthouse on October 1. Court business had f nished for the day by the time Mr Doherty was brought before the court but Judge Durcan resumed court for the brief hearing. Garda Paul Heaslip of Ennis Gar da Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

He said Mr Doherty made no reply to either of the charges after caution.

Legal aid was approved for defence solicitor John Casey.

Mr Casey said he had no questions regarding the arrest, charge and cau tion of his client. However he was said he was applying for bail for Mr Doherty. Inspector Tom Kennedy said the State consented to bail subject to the accused abiding by certain con ditions. Mr Doherty is required to reside at Belcamp Lane, Dublin and stay out of Clare except for court business. He was also told to stay away from Michael McDonagh. Bail was granted subject to the ac cused’s own bond of 500 euros. Mr Doherty was remanded on bail to ap pear again at Ennis District Court on November 12. Two years ago Mr Doherty suffered multiple slash wounds when he was the victim of a vicious knife attack at the Maid of Eireann roundabout in Ennis.