Dundalk court: Man (28) jailed for eight months

A 28 year old man who was involved in a break-in to a van in Dundalk, public order incidents in a local apartment complex, and caused criminal damage while trespassing at a separate apartment building, has been jailed for eight months at Dundalk district court.

Jake Keenan of Aisling Park, Coxs Demesne, Dundalk was before the court for sentencing for a series of offences, including causing criminal damage to a van at Seafield Lawns, Dundalk on October 29th 2021.

Gardaí were called to Halliday Mills on Quay Street, Dundalk on November first last where it was reported that a man was banging on doors.

He was spoken to in the hallway, but continued to shout and despite being given directions to leave the area and to cease his behaviour, he continued and resisted when handcuffs were being placed on him behind his back.

The court heard Jake Keenan was charged with a further public order offence, after he refused to leave the offices of the Probation Service on December 1st last and when gardaí had taken him outside the building he pretended to have a seizure and lashed out violently and attempted to bite two officers.

He was also prosecuted for causing criminal damage after trespassing at Mourne View Hall on the Dublin Road, where he was found asleep in the common room.

The court was told he had 80 previous convictions.

The Defence solicitor said the death of his client's father three years ago “put him into a spiralling situation” and stressed that he has been in custody since March 11th and had spent further periods remanded in custody.

He added that a lot of the offending was linked to his drug issues and claimed “things went from bad to worse for him" and asked the court to give credit for his guilty plea and in his view "There's plenty of time to rehabilitate himself.”