Kildare man accused of stealing beer, cider and vodka from pubs

Gardaí brought a man accused of stealing alcohol from Laois pubs to court for breaching his bail conditions.

Conor McMahon (36) of Kilpatrick, Kildangan, Kildare is accused of stealing:

- 12 bottles of Smirnoff vodka valued at €364.99;

- 24 bottles of Bulmers valued at €206.14 from the Vintage Inn, Stradbally on October 9 last;

- Four kegs of beer valued at €710 from the Rock Inn, Dublin Road, Portlaoise on November 2.

Garda Niamh Bergin said the man had failed to sign on at a local garda station as per his bail conditions on January 2 and December 31. She said he had also changed address.

The accused said he had tested positive for Covid on December 31 and had been unable to get a certificate from a doctor in Laois because his bail conditions prevented him from entering the county except for court appearances. He said he tested negative on January 3 and he informed Gardai of his illness.

He said he left his partner’s address as she had been upset when the address appeared in the newspapers. He said he now resided with his father at the Kildangan address.
The man said the offending had occurred when he relapsed on drugs and he was now in recovery. “Only for this Garda I would probably be dead right now,” he said.

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The man said his dole hadn’t been paid since February but he was a qualified mechanic and is due to start a job in Dublin on January 10.
“I am trying to get my life back on track,” he said.
Sgt Kirby said the woman’s partner maintained he had been using substances.
The man denied this and said she was mistaken because he had a runny nose due to having Covid.
Anne Doyle BL said her client “was attacked and severely wounded in the left eye” while in custody. She asked that he be allowed to remain on bail.
Garda Bergin said she hadn’t been notified of his change of address.
The accused asked Judge Cody to “give me the opportunity to get my life back on track”.
Judge Cody remanded the man on bail and adjourned the case to Portlaoise District Court on March 19 for a probation and welfare report and finalisation.