Man facing Christmas in jail for Offaly theft will be arrested unless he comes to court
Thief wore 'distinctive Kildare jumper' when stealing tools
A WARRANT will be issued for the arrest of a man who faces spending Christmas in jail unless he turns up in court next week.
Mark Byrne (33), St Patrick's Park, Rathangan, who is on bail and has admitted stealing power tools, was due to appear before Tullamore District Court this week on Wednesday (December 11).
At a previous sitting Judge Andrew Cody told Mr Byrne that unless he came to court with €1,000 in compensation for the injured party he would be jailed.
Judge Cody was told the man was not in court because he had complications following the removal of a kidney and an adjournment was sought for a week.
The judge remanded Mr Byrne on continuing bail to December 18 but said that if the accused did not appear in court a bench warrant would be issued.
When Mr Byrne entered a guilty plea to entering The Derries, Edenderry as a trespasser on October 18 last and stealing the tools his solicitor, Brian Duffy, said his client was a father of three who had undergone surgery in the last month to remove the kidney.
He had been prescribed morphine and it ran out, resulting in him being in pain and not sleeping. The man then “very foolishly” used street Xanax and it had a major effect on him.
Mr Duffy said his client, who was wearing a “distinctive Kildare jumper” when committing the offence, did not remember the incident at all.
The solicitor said the man would compensate the injured party and had been working prior to his kidney issues.
Some of the items stolen had been left in a hedge and he could not remember where the remainder was.
The court had been told the theft had taken place at sheds at a private house but the accused did not enter the private address. The property stolen was valued at between €500 and €1,000.