Tipperary judge jails Polish man 'missing his family' for theft and pubic order offences

Nenagh Court was told that aTipperary motorist who turned back at a Garda checkpoint had no insurance

placeholder image — Nenagh Court was told that aTipperary motorist who turned back at a Garda checkpoint had no insurance

A man who suffers from depression because he misses his family in Poland has been jailed for theft and public order fences by Judge Elizabeth MacGrath at Nenagh District Court.

Krzkstof Kostka, NFA, had pleaded at an earlier court to the theft of a bottle of vodka valued at €21 from Aldi, Roscrea, on July 5, 2022.

He had also pleaded to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Main Street, Roscrea, on May 26, 2022.

He had further pleaded to theft of groceries and alcohol valued at €10.54 from Aldi, Roscrea, on May 30, 2023.

His solicitor, David Peters, told the court that Mr Kostka was “like many before you, dealing with addiction issues”.

He said that his client had depression in his life and missed his family in Poland.

Mr Peters said that Mr Kostka had been sleeping in car parks, on the side of the road and on benches and “he knows that can’t continue”.

He said his client had expressed a wish to find employment to address his issues.

Mr Kostka had been in custody and he found that helpful, said Mr Peters.

Judge MacGrath jailed Mr Kostka for two months for the theft on July 5, 2022.

She gave him a consecutive two-month sentence for threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on May 26, 2023, and jailed him for six months, consecutive, with the final four months suspended in his own bond of €250, for the offence on May 30, 2022.

She backdated all the sentences to May 30, 2023.

She took a total of 23 other charges into consideration.

Judge MacGrath fixed recognizance in Mr Kostka’s own bond of €250, with an independent surety of €500.