Man stole bicycle from garden in Laois

A man who stole a bicycle from a front garden in Laois apologised to its owner after he was sentenced. 

Darren McInerney (39) of 11 Colliers Court, Portlaoise, appeared before Portlaoise District Court where he was accused of the unlawful taking of a pedal cycle at The Drive, Mount Stewart, Portlaoise on September 21, 2024. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was pleading guilty to the offence. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant was “captured taking a pedal cycle from the injured party’s garden” on CCTV at 7.45am on the date in question. 

He said the bicycle was later dumped in another estate and had been recovered by the injured party’s father. Sgt Kirby said the man had 159 previous convictions and was serving a prison sentence with a release date in January 2028. 

Ms Fitzpatrick described it as a “very mean crime” and “he does apologise to the victim for taking the bicycle”. 

“He will say he had a serious addiction at the time,” she told Judge Susan Fay. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client was doing well in prison and was now attending school. She said due to his incarceration he was unable to provide any compensation. 

Judge Fay sentenced the man to one month in prison. 

As he was leaving the court, he said “tell whoever owns the bike I am sorry. It will never happen again.”