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11 Mar 2026
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11 Mar 2026
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Longford Courthouse
A defendant who has been tasked with repaying €1,832 compensation to the injured parties in a series of thefts has until the end of November to come up with the balance of the money.
Francis Gavin (35) of 3 Canal Bank, Longford was before judge Bernadette Owens on 14 charges. Prosecutor, Sergeant Mark Mahon, said two additional charges were entered against the defendant at the District Court sitting.
He is now charged with an assault on Partick Stokes on May 26, 2023 at Main Street Longford and failing to keep a court appointment on June 13 2023 at Longford District Court.
The defendant also faces 12 theft charges in respect of robberies between November 2019 and February 2022. Those charges are that the defendant stole property including a high end hair dryer (€240), four sets of duvet covers valued at €299.96, Lego (€139.99, €99.99 and €169.99), face cream worth €230, perfumes costing €179 from businesses in Longford and Mullingar.
Solicitor Frank Gearty said his client was now “off all deleterious substances”.
Mr Gearty said the defendant “has done what he promised” by getting treatment for addiction issues and is now “off substances”.
The solicitor said Mr Francis is working in a voluntary capacity with a local barbers in order to learn the trade. He previously paid €280 in compensation and brought €200 to court on the day of the sitting.
“I appreciate it is a drip feed, but he is on welfare payment,” Mr Gearty told the judge.
The solicitor suggested €500 bail money could also be used for compensation, however court clerk, Margaret Curley, pointed out this money had already been returned to the defendant.
Mr Gearty said: “Francis is living with his mother and is working on his relationship with his 12 year old son. He is really trying and is asking for the courts mercy for the terrible spate of thefts he visited on the business community.”
Mr Gearty commended his client's “bounce back personality”. Sgt Mahon informed the court the total value of the thefts was €1,832.
Judge Bernadette Owens remanded the defendant on continuing bail to November 21 for the balance of compensation and gave gardaí liberty to re enter the matter.
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