Portlaoise Postman found with large volume of undelivered mail 

A former postman who developed a cocaine addiction was found with a ‘large volume’ of unopened undelivered mail in his house.

William Conroy, 42, of 44 Grenville, Dublin Road, Portlaoise admitted to 11 sample charges of preventing the delivery of mail and making gain by deception at his address and at the Portlaoise An Post Mail Depot on dates between December 1, 2020 and September 20, 2022. 

An investigating Detective Garda told the court that Gardai were alerted to the offences by An Post who expressed concern that a member of staff wasn’t delivering mail. 

The defendant was questioned and was cooperative,  admitting he had struggled to deliver the post. A volume of mail, including a large amount of publicity post, was discovered at the man’s property. 

There were “215 people on the route but only two came forward and made a complaint,” the court was told.

A number of people on the postman’s route came forward to gardai to commend the defendant on the good work he had done during Covid, the court heard. 

“I do genuinely think he had an addiction and due to Covid he became very isolated,” the Detective said. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client had been using cocaine and she said his interview with gardai gave some indication of how he suffered during Covid. 

“He said it was a very lonely job and on a rainy day the postman sees no-one,” she said. 

“There wasn’t a single thing taken out of the envelopes,” Ms Fitzpatrick pointed out. 

She said her client was dismissed from his job earlier this year and had sought professional help, although she admitted he hadn’t finished a treatment course. She said he has no previous convictions. 

“He hasn’t touched cocaine since he was processed by the gardai,” she said. The man now has a new job working nights, a time she explained he most often abused cocaine.  

“Of the  215 people only two made a complaint because he was held in such high regard,” said Ms Fitzpatrick. 

She said her client was very ashamed about the matter and was willing to give all of his savings, €2,000 to the court.

“He has been dismissed from a job he enjoyed and had undertaken very well for about 20 years,” she said. 

Judge Andrew Cody wasn’t pleased to hear the man hadn’t finished his treatment. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client can provide drug free urine samples dating back to January. She said he would be more ready for the treatment now. 

Garda Sgt JJ Kirby said all of the post was delivered within three or four months. 

Judge Cody said the man has to finish a course of treatment. He ordered that the €2,000 be donated to Merchants Quay Ireland and adjourned the case to November 16 to allow the defendant to produce a certificate to show he had completed a treatment course.