Portlaoise Court: Pepper spray found in Laois fitness coach house
Portlaoise Courthouse
AN ONLINE fitness coach has until February to make a €400 donation to the poor box at Portlaoise District Court or he will be left with a lifelong conviction under the ‘Firearms Act.’
That’s what Shane Cullen, 93 Castlegate, Station Road, Portarlington was told when he was charged with possessing a can of pepper spray at his home on 1 February.
Mr Cullen pleaded guilty to the charge.
Sergeant JJ Kirby said that while gardaí were carrying out a search, under warrant, of Mr Cullen’s address, they found the can of pepper spray in a bedroom locker. He said that Mr Cullen admitted owning the can and was co-operative with the gardaí.
He said gardaí had not been searching for the pepper spray at the time.
Defending solicitor Philip Meagher said that his 33-year-old client had worked in the security business over 12 years ago and a colleague had given him the can for self-protection.
“These cans have an expiration time of two years. It couldn’t have been used and, if it had, it would have been ineffective,” said Mr Meagher.
He said: “It was in a bedside locker and wasn’t in plain view. He hadn’t seen it in years. He had forgotten he even had it.”
Judge Susan Fay said that if Mr Cullen donated €400 to the court poor box before 10 February that she would strike out the charge. If not, she would convict him of the offence and impose a €500 fine.
