Defendant’s ‘addiction spiralled out of control’ at time of Kilkenny offences

A MAN who admitted numerous offences including theft, possession of a knife, possession of drugs for personal use and driving while over the legal limit appeared before a recent sitting of Kilkenny District Court.​

John Walsh, 20 Burrells Walk, College Park, Callan Road, Kilkenny admitted theft of approximately €300 worth of goods from the Inver Service Station on the Freshford Road in Kilkenny on March 6, 2023. 

READ MORE: Kilkenny father sentenced to five months in prison

The defendant also admitted to possession of a knife and possession of drugs at Nunico Park, Kilkenny on March 3, 2026 and to theft of fuel from the Applegreen Service Station in Paulstown on September 6, 2023.

The court heard that on the date in question gardaí received a report of a male wandering around Nunico Road, armed with a knife.

A woman also contacted gardaí and said that a man, who was known to her, had entered her house with a knife and that there was a child present in the property at the time.

The defendant also admitted the theft of fuel from the Applegreen in Paulstown on December 9, 2023.

The court heard that on the date in question the defendant pulled up and filled his vehicle at the pumps and left without paying for €175.32 worth of fuel.

Mr Walsh also admitted a charge of  failing to produce a specimen at Kilkenny Garda Station on May 2, 2024.

Solicitor Chris Hogan told the court that at the time of the offences his client’s ‘addiction had spiralled out of control’ and that he ‘couldn’t get away from drugs’.

After the offences the defendant left the jurisdiction and went to the UK. The defendant’s brother died and Mr Walsh returned to Ireland.

Mr Hogan outlined to the court that at the time of the possession of a knife his client had suffered a relapse and had taken cocaine and had psychosis and went into the house of a neighbour of a family member.

“He believed that people were after him and that the knife was for his own protection,” said Mr Hogan who added that his client, who is currently in custody, had also brought €600 in compensation to court.

Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted the defendant of drink driving and sentenced him to four months in prison, to be served concurrently with the sentence he is currently serving and imposed an eight year driving ban. The judge also  six-month sentence for theft and a further six months for possession of a knife which are to be served consecutively .