Laois defendant promises to be in bed by 7pm
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A PORTLAOISE man promised Judge Andrew Cody that he’d go to bed early each night if he was released from custody and placed on bail.
Wayne O’Donoghue (24), 7 Old Knockmay Road, Portlaoise was in court on a multiplicity of offences, mostly thefts.
When his case was called, Judge Andrew Cody asked if he was represented by a solicitor, to which he said that he had been by Aonghus McCarthy.
When Judge Cody informed him that Mr McCarthy had resigned from the Free Legal Aid Panel, Mr O’Donoghue said: “I’ll try to get another solicitor and I’ll enter pleas to all the charges next week. I had spoken with a solicitor. His name was Colin from Aonghus McCarthy’s office. He advised me to plead guilty to the charges.” Mr O’Donoghue was in court charged with the theft of €408.85 of goods from Tesco, Tullamore on 25 May last year; possession of cannabis at his address on 29 May; the theft of a €12.90 energy drink from Dealz, Portlaoise; the theft of a €6.95 packet of Panadol from McSorley’s service station, Portlaoise; the theft of €50 from St Vincent De Paul, Portlaoise on 15 May; the theft of a bottle of whiskey valued at €22.99 from Aldi, Portlaoise on 30 May; the theft of €118 of clothes from Tesco Tullamore on 22 February; the theft of a bottle of Captain Morgan valued at €23.20 from Egan’s Off Licence, James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise on 28 May; the theft of kerosene valued at €14.91 from Centra service station, Clonminam, Portlaoise on 29 May; and the theft of €400 in cash from a car at Conniberry Way, Portlaoise on 24 May this year.
Judge Andrew Cody told the defendant that his case had been adjourned from the previous date to allow him time to decide if he was pleading guilty or not guilty to the charges.
“I’ll make a plea of guilty to all the charges,” said the defendant.
He then asked Judge Cody could he be released from custody on bail, to which the judge replied that to lodge a bail application, a defendant would normally need to give gardaí seven days advance notice of such an application.
Mr O’Donoghue said that if granted bail: “I’ll never miss a court again. I’ll be in bed before seven o’clock each night, I promise you. I’ll go to bed early.” From the body of the court, Mr Donoghue’s mother said: “He’ll be a good boy. I’ll make sure he will turn up in court.” Judge Cody asked the woman if she was willing to “put €200 on the table to guarantee Wayne will turn up in court,” to which she said she was willing to put the bail money up for her son.
Judge Cody went on to release the defendant on his own bail of €100 and with the following conditions â that his mother lodges a €200 cash bail and he attends all court dates; he resides at the family address; observes a strict daily curfew from 8pm to 8am; signs on daily at Portlaoise Garda Station and gives gardaí his mobile phone number and always be available to take their calls.
Judge Cody told Mr O’Donoghue: “I’ll see you again in court on 10 September, where I will deal with the cases on pleas of guilty. If I see you before that, bring your toothpaste.”
