A BRAZILIAN carpenter who did not have a valid work permit to be in this country has been given the benefit of the Probation Act.

Samuel de Oliveira (45), of Ballymurphy North, Innishannon pleaded guilty to the offence at Bandon District Court.

Sgt Eimear O’Connell said that on October 29th last members of the Immigration Unit attended a property at Ballymurphy North in Innishannon.

‘They met with a number of non-EU nationals including the accused who is from Brazil and who produced an Irish residence permit which had expired since October 25th 2024,’ said Sgt O’Connell.

Sgt O’Connell said the accused has no previous convictions in this jurisdiction and was fully co-operative with gardaí.

Defence solicitor Éamonn Fleming said his client works as a carpenter and has since rectified his position in this country and he handed in to court his new work permit.

‘He has been in Ireland since 2023 and came here on a student visa and was working as a carpenter. He employed a firm of immigration lawyers who have helped him rectify his position and he now has a work permit and a contract of employment,’ said Mr Fleming, who asked Judge Joanne Carroll not to impose a custodial sentence in this instance as it was a genuine oversight.

The judge said that given that Mr de Oliveira has no previous convictions and hasn’t come to garda attention since she would apply the Probation Act.

‘He needs to keep his paper right if he wants to stay in this country,’ warned Judge Carroll.