Defendant "was out of his mind on drugs" in Carrick-on-Shannon

A Dublin man was convicted and handed a two month prison sentence to run concurrent with his present custodial sentence for damaging letterboxes worth €100 in the Cortober area of Carrick-on-Shannon in 2020. Darryll Cassells of Isaacs Hostel, Frenchman Lane, Dublin 1 was convicted of criminal damage at Inver Gael, Cortober, Co Roscommon on December 17, 2020.

The 27-year-old father of one pleaded guilty to the offence.

The court heard Mr Cassells damaged four letterboxes inside the entrance of the apartment block causing €100 worth of damage. Mr Cassells has 80 previous convictions and Judge Sandra Murphy noted there were a lot of prior convictions for theft and entering buildings. Solicitor Martin Burke said the father of one daughter is currently serving a prison sentence and had an issue with illegal substances.

On this date he was “trying to find his brother’s house” but he was in the wrong town, as his brother lives in Ballinamore.

Judge Murphy noted that the defendant was laughing and she put the case to second call for the defendant to “change his attitude to the court.” When the case returned before the judge Mr Burke said he spoke with his client about his attitude.

He said on the night of the offence, his client was “out of his mind on drugs.” Mr Cassells is due for release from his current sentence on April 12, 2024. Judge Murphy asked about compensation, but Mr Burke said his client has been in prison.

The judge convicted Mr Cassells and sentenced him to two months in prison to run concurrent to the current sentence he is serving.