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Broke into pub after release from garda station

April 15th, 2019 10:00 AM

By Southern Star Team

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A man who repeatedly broke into the Ocean View bar in Rosscarbery to steal alcohol so he could ‘top up' has been sent to jail for 14 months.

A MAN who repeatedly broke into the Ocean View bar in Rosscarbery to steal alcohol so he could ‘top up’ has been sent to jail for 14 months.

Myra Dinneen, solicitor, appealed for leniency when the case against her client, a 29-year old father of three children – who are aged five, two and one – was called at Bantry District Court.

But Judge James McNulty convicted Daniel Culhane of Apt 5, Owenahincha, Rosscarbery, of the theft offence on March 28th last and sentenced him to eight months imprisonment.

The accused, who had broken into the same premises twice before – on November 19th and 20th 2018 – had been given a nine-month sentence on these charges when the case was dealt with at Clonakilty District Court in January.

On that occasion, Judge McNulty instructed that the accused would only serve the first three months and that the remaining six months would be suspended on condition that he stay out of trouble.

Sgt Brian Harte confirmed that the accused had been taken into custody after Clonakilty District Court on January 15th but was allowed out on temporary release from Cork Prison on February 12th. The sergeant pointed out that the accused had, in fact, been arrested in Clonakilty on a public order offence and kept in the garda station until he was released at 11.50pm on March 28th.

And, within two hours, the court  heard the accused was back at the Ocean View, where he forced the back door, gained admittance, and stole alcohol.

Ms Dinneen said her client was now on medication for his alcohol addiction and was attending AA meetings. 

Judge McNulty said he had sympathy for anyone who has developed addictions, but said it would come as ‘no surprise that he will be going back to prison.’ In addition to ordering the reactivation of the six months that had previously been suspended, Judge McNulty added eight more for the latest offence in March.

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