Man had bag containing crowbar, screwdriver and gloves in Laois

A man admitted having a bag containing a crow bar, gloves and screwdriver in Portlaoise. 

Ricardo Stancu (19) of Flat 10, 488 North Circular Road, Dublin 7 was arrested for possession of articles on the Stradbally Road, Portlaoise on June 26, 2023. 

Garda Byrne said he spotted the defendant wearing all black and carrying a bag while walking on the road at Borris Little at 1.55am on the date in question. 

“He proceeded to hide the bag under the undergrowth,” he  said. 

Garda Byrne retrieved the bag and found the items inside. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client was pleading guilty. He said the man, a Romanian national living in Ireland since he was 12, was 18 at the time. 

Mr Fitzgerald said the defendant has no previous convictions and “wasn’t able to give an explanation” for the items.

“He spent a year in custody in respect of other matters,” Mr Fitzgerald added. 

Judge Nicola Andrews imposed a three month sentence which she suspended for two years. She ordered the destruction of the seized items.