Portlaoise Court: Man tells judge ‘I can’t go to the Midlands Prison’
Portlaoise Courthouse
A MAN asked Judge Andrew Cody not to send him to the Midlands Prison because prisoners in there are fighting with him.
The request came from John McDonagh, Willow Court, Mountmellick, whose case was heard in Portlaoise District Court last week by video link from Cloverhill Prison.
Mr McDonagh was charged with assault on 13 July last at Harbour Street, Mountmellick as well as six counts of criminal damage on 26 June at the Foróige premises on Connolly Street, Mountmellick and another premises on that street.
Judge Cody said that he was adjourning the case for sentencing today Thursday 6 March.
Mr McDonagh then said: “I can’t go to the Midlands Prison. There are people in there fighting with me. Can I be sentenced by video link and sent to Cloverhill?”
Judge Cody said the 20-year-old defendant would have to be in court at the next hearing for sentencing and that it was up to the Prison Service to determine where he would be incarcerated, should a custodial sentence be imposed.
