Drug addict pleads guilty to thefts

A self confessed drug addict who stole over €300 worth of clothes from a Longford department store has been told he will have to undergo a probation report.

Mark Kelly (32), 4 Camlin Mews, Longford pleaded guilty at last week’s sitting of Longford District Court to stealing two jumpers and a pair of jeans valued at €244.90 from Durkin’s, Ballymahon Street, Longford on January 23 2019. On the same date and location, Mr Kelly stole another jumper, this time with a value of €80 attached. Both offences fell under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

Wearing a white t-shirt and green tracksuit bottoms, Mr Kelly waited impassively beside his solicitor John Quinn while details surrounding the alleged offences were made known. The latter, meanwhile, said he would prefer to hold his own counsel for the time being, adding that a “certain course” would be taken in order to allow time for compensation to be gathered. This, he said, was due to the fact the stolen property was not recovered.

Appearing somewhat agitated by those remarks, Judge Hughes attempted to press Mr Quinn to ask Mr Kelly whether or not he intended pleading guilty.After a brief exchange between the two, Mr Quinn confirmed the Longford man was holding his hands up over both incidents.

“The last time I met you, did I give you a sentence?” Judge Hughes asked Mr Kelly.

Mr Kelly replied, saying he did and served four and a half months of a six month term. After coming out of prison in August, Judge Hughes asked Mr Kelly what he had done to steer clear of drugs. Mr Kelly said said he continued to see a counsellor on a regular basis and travelled to Mullingar every Wednesday to provide urine samples.

Judge Hughes said given the nature of Mr Kelly’s history and charges before the court, the most practical option would be to seek a probation report in order to verify much of the claims made by the accused. He consequently remanded Mr Kelly on continuing bail to a sitting of Longford District Court on May 7 2019.

He also warned Mr Kelly of the consequences should he come to the attention of gardaí in the interim.

“I know it’s obvious to say that but if you do (commit further offences) that immediately closes the door off to you,” he said.