Portlaoise Court: Man broke down friend’s front door in Laois
Portlaoise Courthouse
A MAN who broke down a friend’s front door, causing €800 worth of damage, was given a suspended prison sentence when he appeared before Portlaoise District Court last week.
Craig O'Mara, The Cottage, Morette, Emo was charged with criminal damage on 6 May at a house in Cullenbeg Park, Mountmellick.
Judge Andrew Cody asked: “How can a friend go knocking down the door of another house?”
Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said: “He has apologised to her, which she accepted.”
The court heard that Mr O'Mara had one previous conviction for a drug offence in 2024.
Ms Fitzpatrick said that her 47-year old client, who is currently out of work and on a job seeker's payment, has €800 to pay for the damage he caused to the door.
The solicitor added that her client “is not intending on coming before the court again”.
“It has all the hall-marks to me of a dispute over a debt,” commented Judge Cody, which Ms Fitzpatrick totally refuted.
Judge Cody convicted Mr O’Mara of the offence and imposed a two-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.
He went on to fix recognisance in the event of an appeal against the sentence.
