Car taken without permission in Offaly broke down when man was looking for dog

A CAR which was found on the bypass at Mucklagh had been taken by a man from his foster parents' home without permission, Tullamore District Court was told.

Stephen Clarke (25), Harbour Court, Harbour Street, Tullamore pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without the consent of its owner on a date unknown between September 1 and September 7 last year.

Sergeant Richard Thornton said the vehicle was seized by gardai after they received a report of its presence on the road and they subsequently established it had been taken without authorisation from a nearby property.

Outlining Mr Clarke's eight previous convictions, Sergeant Thornton said the accused had received a three-month suspended sentence in 2021, and had been convicted of criminal damage, public order and theft offences over the previous few years.

Donal Farrelly, defending solicitor, said his client had been living with foster parents at the time and took the vehicle from their house.

He should have sought permission from his sister to do so but she was not present.

Mr Farrelly said Mr Clarke took the car because he was going to look for a dog but it had broken down.

He accepted responsibility for the matter straight away and it was he who had rung the gardai about it.

He was currently living in accommodation with the assistance of the Peter McVerry Trust, added the solicitor.

Judge Andrew Cody imposed a two-month suspended prison sentence on Mr Clarke, along with a €300 fine.

He also disqualified him from driving for three years.