Man admits possessing stolen goods and drugs in Laois
The man appeared before Portlaoise District Court
A man pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol, possessing drugs and handling stolen property at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court.
Rory Harris (48) of 3A Library Apartments, Mountrath admitted having cannabis valued at €5 at Lyster Square, Portlaoise on January 13 last. He had cannabis valued at €10 at Harpurs Lane on February 24.
Garda Sergeant Jason Hughes said the defendant was found in an intoxicated state at Railway Street, Portlaoise and arrested on May 20 and he was found in an intoxicated state at 5.30pm at Portlaoise Football Club on the Mountmellick Road Portlaoise on May 11 and arrested.
The defendant also admitted being in possession of a stolen bottle of Jameson valued at €25 and a stolen bicycle valued at €100 at Station Road, Portarlington on July 7.
Judge Nicola Andrews asked if the owner of the bicycle had ever been identified and Sgt Hughes said they had not.
On July 30 the defendant was arrested for being intoxicated at Carmody Way, Fairgreen, Portlaoise.
Sgt Hughes said the defendant stole Captain Morgans rum valued at €32.50 from Dunnes Stores, Mountmillick Road, Portlaoise on August 8 and the property was not recovered. He said the man had 13 previous convictions.
Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client was pleading guilty to all matters. He said the man was originally from Cork. He said the man had moved to Portlaoise a number of years ago and unfortunately an infant child of his had died and the man turned to drink and cannabis.
He said the defendant “lives nomadically” and “addiction fuels all of the offending before the court.” He said the man has recently had an MRI and it appears he may have suffered a minor stroke.
The defendant asked to address the judge and was sworn in.
He explained that he had collapsed in work and was suspended because his employers “thought it was drugs”. He said the MRI revealed “all the back of my brain is calcified. It affects my balance,” he said.
The defendant said he was no longer able to think straight and that was why he had not attended previous appointments with the probation services.
However, he said his mother was returning home from Australia and she would help him with appointments.
Mr Fitzgerald agreed that his client would need “to get a handle” on his situation and he believed the man’s mother might help.
Judge Nicola Andrews said she would refer the man to probation services.
“It is quite obvious to me that his offending is caused by his addiction,” she said.
She remanded the man on bail and adjourned the case back to February 17 but warned she would impose a four month suspended sentence if he didn’t deal with his issues as directed by the courts and probation services.