Man got into cars and stole from shops in Laois 

A jail sentence was handed down to a man who admitted stealing and entering cars in Laois. 

Niall Connolly, 33, with an address at 45 The Birches, Kilnacourt appeared before Portlaoise District Court via video link from Cloverhill Prison. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was pleading guilty to all of the charges. She said her client was on an “enhanced regime” in Cloverhill Prison and has been in custody since August 2022.  He is due for release in May of 2025. 

Garda Inspector Jane Ryan said the man was accused of trespass at an address at New Mill Court, Portarlington on July 7, 2022. She said the person who lived at the address had been “extremely upset and frightened” by the incident. 

On December 30, 2021, the defendant was charged with interfering with a vehicle at The Glen, Kilnacourt, Portarlington. Insp Ryan said the defendant got into the car and searched it but nothing was taken. She said the incident was captured on CCTV. 

Insp Ryan said the defendant tried to get into a car at Portlaoise Train Station on October 20, 2022.  She said he was observed and identified on CCTV at the train station attempting to gain entry to a vehicle. Insp Ryan said the defendant got into a car and “the owner was in the driver’s seat” so “he got out and ran away.” 

He stole a brown envelope containing personal documents from a car from St Brigid’s Square in Portarlington on October 12, 2022.  When the injured party challenged the defendant, there was a tussle and the man suffered injuries to his ribs and thumb, said Insp Ryan. 

She told the court the man had stolen groceries valued at €8 from the Maxol Filling Station on Main Street, Portarlington on May 5, 2022. He also stole a polo shirt valued at €8 from Lidl, Portarlington on September 1, 2022. 

Insp Ryan said the defendant stole a bicycle which was later recovered on July 7, 2022. He was found in possession of benzodiazepine at Portlaoise Courthouse on February 16, 2023. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was pleading guilty to all of the offences. She said he had a serious reliance on substances before he went into custody and he had been “feeding his habit” through his crimes. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said the man’s mother had died while he was in custody.

“He is resolute now in his determination to remain drug free,” she told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

Judge Nicola Andrews acknowledged what was being said by way of mitigation but noted “there are a litany of charges” and some are quite serious.

She sentenced the man to three months in relation to the assault charge and three months concurrently for trespass with the sentence to begin from the court date.

“All the other sheets, I am marking them facts proven, taken into consideration,” said Judge Andrews. 

“I won’t increase your jail time but it is important that there is a record there of the offending,” she said. 

Judge Andrews  told the man he had her “utmost respect” for achieving what he had in getting off drugs and becoming an enhanced prisoner. The defendant thanked the judge after the sentence was handed down.