Portlaoise pub burglary accused seeks bail

A man who is accused of burgling a pub in Portlaoise while two people were upstairs was given consent to bail at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

James Patrick O’Donnell (46) of 67 St Brigid’s Place, Portlaoise, appeared before the court accused of burglary, criminal damage, trespass and the theft of €1,900 from Humes Pub at 106 Main Street, Portlaoise on January 8, 2026. The man is also accused of possessing drugs for sale or supply at his address in Portlaoise on January 8, 2026. 

He appeared before a sitting of Portlaoise District Court where Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick made an application for bail.

Garda Darren Garvey said the defendant was arrested and his address was searched on January 8. When the man was informed he was being arrested on suspicion of burglary, “his reply was f**k you”, said Garda Garvey. 

He said the man made no reply to any of the charges which were put to him at the Garda Station.  Garda Garvey said there were no DPP directions.

Garda Garvey said it would be alleged that at 5.08am he “entered the premises at 106 Main Street, Portlaoise through a small window” and had caused criminal damage to a latch on the window. He said it would be alleged the defendant “pried the window open with  a small crowbar” and took “cash and notes” valued at €1,900. 

Garda Garvey said the incident was captured on “excellent quality CCTV” and clothing similar to that worn by the suspect was seized from the defendant’s address. 

Objecting to bail, Garda Garvey said in his opinion the defendant was likely to commit serious crimes if admitted to bail. He said the €1,900 had not been recovered and he said that although the defendant receives €600 from the Red Cross for accommodating Ukrainians, Garda Garvey believed the amount was insufficient “to cover his expenses and drug use”. 

“My application is for a remand in custody and no conditions will allay my concerns,” he told Judge Susan Fay. 

Garda Garvey said the man had admitted during interview that he had a substantial drug debt. He said “we have extremely high quality CCTV” and “there were two people asleep upstairs” at the time of the burglary. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said any alleged drugs seized from the defendant’s property had not been tested and could be anything. “It is pure speculation at the moment,” she said. 

She said her client, who was accompanied to court by his brother, could observe a curfew and sign on daily. She said he enjoyed the presumption of innocence and should be granted bail. 

Judge Fay asked Garda Garvey if there were any bail conditions she could apply which would ease his concerns. “Not really Judge, no,” replied Garda Garvey. 

Ms Fitzpatrick again said her client was entitled to the presumption of innocence and should be granted bail. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said he would have concerns as “this man went into a well known premises where there were two people sleeping, allegedly at 5am in the morning”. He described the allegation as “worrying and they are serious offences”. 

“It is worrying when you put everything together,” said Sgt Kirby. 

Judge Fay noted “there is a presumption of innocence and a presumption of bail” and said the defendant comes before the court an innocent man. 

She remanded him in custody with consent to bail on his own bond of €100 with an independent surety of €500. The bail, if taken up, was subject to a number of conditions. These included that he reside at his address, obey a curfew between 9pm and 7am, sign on  daily at Portlaoise Garda Station, provide Gardaí with a phone number and be contactable at all times and available to meet Gardaí within 15 minutes, that he remain of sober habits and engage with community addiction services and stay away from licenced premises.

She granted legal aid and remanded the defendant in custody with consent to bail to appear again before Portlaoise District Court on January 19.