Portlaoise Court: Defendant asks judge to send him to jail
Portlaoise Courthouse
JUDGE Andrew Cody told a defendant that he was a very accommodating person and if he wanted to be taken to jail that he could oblige him with his request.
That offer was made to Gerard Sherlock, 21 Chancery Close, Tullamore, who was brought before Portlaoise District Court on foot of a bench warrant.
Mr Sherlock was charged with obstruction and with possessing cocaine for his own use on 19 May last at Church Hill, Tullamore.
A garda informed the court that when he arrested the 21-year-old defendant, he said: “Take me to jail, I don’t care.”
On hearing this, Judge Cody said: “I’m a very accommodating person and if I can assist you in that, I will. Do you want that?” asked the judge, to which Mr Sherlock replied: “I don’t know. If you’re going to give me jail today, then give me jail. I don’t care.”
Judge Cody went on to remand Mr Sherlock in custody to appear at Tullamore District Court, before telling him: “I’d advise you to get a solicitor in the meantime.”
A short while later, Mr Sherlock returned to the courtroom and told Judge Cody that he had a solicitor who would now represent him.
Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick told the judge that her client now “wants to apologise for his behavior earlier. He says he only got one hour’s sleep the night before and was asking the court to allow him bail”.
She said: “He lives in a mobile home at the rear of his house. If granted bail, he has no objection to obeying a curfew, remaining sober and signing on at a garda station.”
Reversing his earlier decision, Judge Cody remanded Mr Sherlock on his own bail of €100 and imposed conditions that he resides at his address, observes an 8pm to 8am curfew, signs on daily at the local garda station and remains of sober habits until the next sitting of the case.
