Tullamore man charged with a large number of offences asks judge to send him to prison
A TULLAMORE man asked a judge to please send him to prison, during last week's sitting of Tullamore District Court.
Before the court was Thomas Power, 47 Grand Canal Court, Tullamore and he was charged with a large number of offences.
The defending solicitor Donal Farrelly said his client is 20 years of age and was pleading guilty to all the charges.
My client has told me,” commented Mr Farrelly, “that he would accept a small prison sentence as punishment for his offences.
“He tells me the reason is he is finding it difficult to cope with his troubles and problems in society. He feels he needs time away from his peers and his locality and his problematic alcohol habit. I appreciate that this is a strange request. It is certainly not something that I have ever asked the court to do before.”
Sergeant James O'Sullivan told the court what some of the charges were. On August 31, 2021 at Kilbride Street Tullamore at the rear of the Garda Station “he was shouting abuse at the Gardaí.
He picked up stones and threw stones at the Garda cars. When asked to, he wouldn't leave the scene.
He caused damage to a number of the Garda cars and to the station itself. He also threatened to cause damage to Sergeant Gary Ryan's car."
On another date, February 27, 2021 at 2.45am the Gardaí observed Mr Power driving a vehicle in a dangerous fashion on Church Road, Tullamore.
The Garda patrol car followed Mr Power's car and witnessed him carrying out a number of dangerous driving manoeuvres at a number of spots, including Cloncollig Roundabout, Tullamore, Tesco Roundabout Tullamore, Church Hill Roundabout Tullamore, the N52 bypass, Chancery Lane Tullamore, New Road Tullamore, Church Street Tullamore, and O'Moore Street Tullamore.
When the pursuit finally came to an end the Gardais discovered that Mr Power had no driving licence and no insurance.
Sgt O'Sullivan said he had two previous convictions, for theft and criminal damage.
“This happened two years ago,” said Mr Farrelly. “He was young, only 18 years of age. He is now 20. When these offences happened in February and August 2021 he was under the influence of a lot of alcohol.”
Judge Andrew Cody said he would not send Mr Power to prison. “Going into prison is not the answer for you Mr Power,” remarked the Judge.
“Going into Midlands Prison for three to six months is not going to be good for you at 20 years of age. It is a reasonably good report about you that I have here before me. You have in fact come on a long way. These offences happened quite a while ago and you haven't come to the attention of the Gardaí since. I am not going to throw away the key on you. You could be mixing with people in prison that, to be honest, I would prefer you didn't mix with, because you could be misled by them. That is not the answer for you. Therefore I am convicting and disqualifying from driving for four years and sentencing to three months imprisonment suspended for three years. For no insurance I am also fining €400.
“There are lots of people out there to help you if you engage with them. Please do so. And I would also like you to continue to engage with the Probation Service for the next 12 months.”