'A fiasco' - Case of Offaly man adjourned after solicitor's car breaks down

An Offaly man appeared in court accused of assaulting a man and theft from a menswear shop in Portarlington but the case had to be adjourned when his solicitor failed to appear in court..  

Daniel McDonagh (28) with addresses at Ballycrystal, Geashill, Offaly, and 1 Fonthill Caravan Park, Clondalkin, Dublin  was charged with the theft of €449.82 worth of clothing from Eamon Bracken Men’s Wear, Main Street, Portarlington and with assault on Foxcroft Street, Portarlington on February 10, 2025. 

He was further charged with the theft of four cans of Captain Morgan valued at €11.50 from Centra, Main Street, Portarlington on February 11 and with and threatening to kill or cause serious injury at Hopkins Haven in Monasterevin on November 20, 2024 and to theft of €136 worth of diesel from the Applegreen garage in Portarlington on May 18, 2025.

Andrew Dunne BL said he had received a text from the man’s solicitor to say his car had broken down. 

“A swanky new BMW?” Judge Andrew Cody said. He described the situation as “absolutely unsatisfactory” and a “fiasco”. 

He said he would expect somebody from the firm to show up and address the court in relation to the matter.

The case was adjourned back to Portlaoise District Court on November 27.