Man who stole tools in Offaly must pay €1,000 or spend Christmas in jail

TULLAMORE District Court heard that a man could not remember stealing power tools because of the effect a street drug was having on him at the time.

Mark Byrne (33), St Patrick's Park, Rathangan, admitted entering The Derries, Edenderry as a trespasser on October 18 last and stealing the tools.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns told the court the theft had taken place at sheds at a private house but the accused did not enter the private address.

Sergeant Kearns said the property stolen was valued at between €500 and €1,000. He had previous convictions for theft and road traffic offences.

Defending solicitor Brian Duffy said the previous theft conviction dated back to May 2012. Mr Byrne was a 32-year-old father of three who had undergone surgery in the last month to remove a kidney.

He was 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 to the tune of €1,000. He 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.

Judge Andrew Cody ordered Mr Duffy to have €1,000 for the injured party by December 11 or he would be spending Christmas in jail.