Kildare man opts for prison to be treated for heroin addiction
A man who was “coming off heroin” and “going through a bad addiction” received a custody term at Naas District Court.
Defending solicitor Jackie McManus said the man is prepared to go to prison to get treatment.
Before the court was Tommy Connell, 31, whose address was given as 20 Castle Park, Athy.
Be was before the court for burglary at the Athy Further Education Centre at Carlow Road and in relation to a burglary at the Shining Stars Academy, a daycare and after school service at Church Road, Carlow.
Detective Garda Seamus Doyle told of arresting the defendant and charging him. The incidents took place on December 8.
He said items, including a trimmer and leaf blower, were taken from the centre after a shed there was broken into.
The garda said he stopped the defendant and a co-accused.
“They didn’t run and handed it over,'' he told the court, adding that all of the property was recovered.
The garda added it was a “very basic burglary”.
The court heard that the defendant kicked at a fire extinguisher in a garda station, breaking the casing.
The court was told that the defendant has 35 previous convictions and 23 of these are under the Theft Act. The court was told he also has 17 public order convictions as well as ten for criminal damage.
She said he has “a huge issue” with heroin and while he had tried to get treatment for this there was a waiting list “as long as my arm.”
Judge Desmond Zaidan, who earlier the day had told gardaí to take the defendant from the courtroom because he was yawning, said he had seen the defendant's co-accused and he appeared to be at death’s door.
He said the co-accused would not have survived the recent cold weather.
The judge imposed two ten month sentences and the criminal damage allegation was taken into account.
The judge also said he was directing that the man get immediate attention and he was not to be considered for early release until he completes a drug treatment programme.