Tullamore man receives suspended prison sentence for series of offences

A TULLAMORE man received a three months suspended prison sentence for burglary during Tullamore District Court last week.

Patrick Ward, 74 Saint Columba's Place, Clonminch, Tullamore was charged with several offences.

These included trespass and theft at 38 St Columba's Place, Tullamore on September 16, 2020; no insurance and no driving licence at Cormac Street, Tullamore on September 6, 2021; trespass, criminal damage and attempted theft at Clonminch Medical Centre, Clonminch Tullamore on April 26 2020; possession of a pen knife with the intention of using it for a burglary at Clonminch Medical Centre, Tullamore on April 26 2020; damaged four front windows at 176 Church Hill Tullamore on August 9, 2021; damaged a window and theft at Srah House, Srah Road Tullamore on March 15, 2020; damaged front windows of 109 Arden View, Tullamore on July 31 2021; damaged front windows of 56 Chancery Park Road, Tullamore on August 2, 2021.

Sergeant James O'Sullivan told the court that on December 16 2020 at 38 St Columba's Place the injured party left her house and then sometime later CCTV footage captured Mr Ward entering the house, where he stole an item from the premises.

“On March 15 2020 at Srah House, he stole an old copper cylinder from the kitchen. He cut himself during this. We took a sample of this blood and its DNA matched Patrick Ward's. €100 of damage was caused during the break in.

“At 109 Arden View €340 of damage was caused.”

The defending solicitor Donal Farrelly said his client is 31 years of age and has three children aged ten, eight and five, “the youngest of whom has a brain tumour. Some of these crimes were committed when he had a drug debt and he was trying to repay that debt. He is presently unemployed and he hasn't come to the Guards' attention since."

Judge Andrew Cody convicted and sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for three years. He fined €500 for no insurance.

“Because he has a very ill daughter and therefore needs a licence, I won't disqualify.”