Longford District Court: Defendant ‘ought to know better’

A defendant whose life “is a tale of addiction” was sentenced to eight months in prison at Longford District Court.

Robbie O'Haire (42) of 3 Camlin Mews, Longford was charged with four counts of trespass, and two counts of possession of articles to be used in the commission of an offence.

When Judge Bernadette Owens put the defendant on his election Mr O'Haire chose to have matters heard in the District Court and entered a plea to all the charges but two, the two possession of articles charges were withdrawn by the State.

Sergeant Enda Daly outlined the details of the offences before the court. The first was on June 6, 2023 when the defendant was observed on CCTV entering the curtilage of a property as a trespasser.

The prosecutor said the second offence happened in the early hours of June 9 last. Longford Garda Station received a call from a man in Newtownforbes.

The man was alerted by an activated alarm and saw on CCTV a man dressed in black getting into a vehicle parked at his premises.

The trespasser fled from the area and a man matching the description given was seen trespassing on the grounds of Scoil Muire in Newtownforbes.

The trespasser, Mr O'Haire, was arrested and brought to Longford Garda Station.

The fourth offence occurred at approximately 6am on September 17, when Mr O'Haire entered The Longford Arms as a trespasser.

The night porter told Gardaí the defendant entered a door left open to allow staff entry. He made his way to the bar, picking up a mobile phone on the way, and was seen trying to open the till.

The night porter attempted to restrain him and in the struggle Mr O'Haire left a shoe and some clothing behind as he fled the building. The defendant was identified from CCTV.

Mr O'Haire had 68 previous convictions.

Solicitor Frank Gearty said his client is a “mature man” who “ought to know better”.

Mr Gearty explained that the defendant had a serious drug problem in the past and had gone through a period of rehabilitation, but “succumbed again”.

“He was in a terrible state,” Mr Gearty told the judge, “he is determined to mend himself and undergo treatment. If he continues he will do significant harm to himself.”

The solicitor said his client is father to three children and wants to play a part in their lives. Mr Gearty stressed that the trespass offence at the school was only an effort to evade Gardaí.

“His behaviour is that of a person in a desperate state,” the solicitor said, “the old habit had come back and the need for money for drugs was strong. He is now in fine fettle and free of all drugs.”

Mr Gearty asked if rehabilitation could be addressed in any sentence handed down to his client: “His life is a tale of addiction, he wants to apologise to society at large.”

Noting the facts of the case Judge Owens gave credit for the early plea, but said an aggravating factor in the matter was that the offence in September was committed while Mr O'Haire was on bail.

The judge imposed an eight month custodial sentence, backdating it to September 20, 2003 when the defendant was first taken into custody.

Recognisance was set in the event of an appeal on the defendant's own bond of €250.