Gardaí seek to revoke man’s bail in Portlaoise

Gardai attempted to revoke a man’s bail after he allegedly breached his conditions on a number of occasions.

Lee Dargan (37) of 3 The Cottages, Harpurs Lane, Portlaoise, is accused of stealing alcohol worth €12 from Aldi in Portlaoise on April 27, cider valued at €12.90 from Dunnes Stores, Portlaoise on May 7 and alcohol valued at €17 from the same store on May 19, 2026.

His bail conditions included that he obey a curfew between 11pm and 7am, that he reside at his address, make himself available to Gardaí at his address and that he not enter Dunnes Stores or Aldi in Portlaoise.

Garda Darren Garvey made an application to revoke the man’s bail at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. He said the man had not been present at his address for 10 curfew checks conducted by Gardai.

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick asked about the alleged breaches. Garda Garvey said she had a copy of the original bail where the conditions were set out. He said he was alleged to have breached his curfew.

“There is a list there of the dates and times of the alleged breaches,” he said. He explained that they had taken place on dates in July, August and September. He said Gardaí were in court to give evidence of the alleged breaches.

“You weren’t present for any of the alleged breaches were you?” asked Ms Fitzpatrick. Garda Garvey said he was not.

Garda Darren McSharry then gave evidence of calling to the house as did Garda McDermott and Garda James Cahill. They all gave evidence of getting no response when they called to the house which was in darkness.

Ms Fitzpatrick asked each of the Gardai if it was possible that her client was in the house and didn’t answer the door. She asked each of them if the man had been seen elsewhere when he should have been at the address. None of the Gardaí could say he was not in the house or that he had been seen elsewhere.

Judge Tom MacSharry said he had heard direct evidence in relation to five alleged breaches of the bail conditions.

Mr Dargan then took to the stand and Ms Fitzpatrick asked him if he had been home on the dates mentioned. He said he was.

“Have you been complying with your bail conditions?” asked Ms Fitzpatrick. The man said he had been and explained that he was taking sleeping tablets which had been prescribed to him and had been asleep when Gardaí called.

Sgt JJ Kirby asked the man why he hadn’t mentioned the prescription when he was in court previously. The man said he hadn’t thought it necessary. He said he normally goes to bed at around 11pm. “All I can do is apologise,” the man said.

Ms Fitzpatrick asked the man how many times Gardaí had called and he had answered. He said “about ten times”.

Ms Fitzpatrick said that while it’s not “ideal” her client now “knows he must answer the door and not just be present” at the property.

Sgt Kirby said the man had been well aware of the conditions he had breached on several occasions.

Judge MacSharry said he had heard evidence of five “credible” breaches of bail.

“You said that you are on prescription medication for sleeping tablets,” he said.

Judge MacSharry said he had taken detailed notes of the case and he wanted proof of the prescription for sleeping tablets before making a decision. He told Ms Fitzpatrick that it was her client who had introduced the information.

“I want clarification, if he has something from his GP to support that,” he said.

Judge MacSharry then adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on October 19 in order for proof from the GP.