KILDARE: Man who stole golf clubs started taking heroin at 11
A man who took golf clubs and a golf trolley from a car got a custody term at Naas District Court.
Paul Reilly, 43, whose address was given as 13 Deansrath Road, Clondalkin and 7 Grangeview Place, Clondalkin, was prosecuted for theft and having stolen property on September 4, 2019.
Sgt Dave Hanrahan said the gardaí went to the train station at Kildare town to investigate a report of suspicious activity.
He said the defendant was taking golf clubs and a golf caddy from the boot of a vehicle.
He said that when he searched a screwdriver was found on him and also found were phone chargers and a watch. Also found was a rucksack which had been reported stolen earlier.
The court heard that the defendant had 18 previous convictions, including 14 for criminal damage, but none for theft.
Barrister Aisling Murphy said the defendant had spent a substantial amount of time in custody.
The court was told he is serving a sentence imposed in January 2022 and is due for release in January 2025.
The court also heard that the defendant got Covid-19 custody and had also developed COPD which means he now uses a nebuliser.
Ms Murphy said he began using heroin at 11.He left school early with very little formal education.
He also was clean of drugs for a period but had a lapse and is now drug free again.
Judge Desmond Zaidan imposed two consecutive terms of nine months in custody.
Prosecutions for interfering with the mechanism of a vehicle and possessing a screwdriver were taken into consideration.