Judge in Tullamore District Court imposes sentence on 'lying' man

A three-month prison sentence was imposed on a man who Judge Andrew Cody accused of lying to Tullamore District Court.

Evidence in relation to when John Joyce (33), Belcamp Crescent, Priorswood, Dublin 17 was working was presented to the District Court last week after a plea of guilty to shoplifting had been entered on January 13.

Mr Joyce admitted theft from Aldi, Dublin Road, Edenerry on August 29, 2022 on his previous appearance in court and last week Sergeant Brendan Kearns said that compensation had been paid.

Paul Noctor, BL, for the accused, said the man was a working father of five and he handed payslips into the court.

Mr Noctor said Mr Joyce had been drinking on the day of the offence and had brought another €100 to the court.

Judge Cody said a payslip indicated the man started work on January 31 last but Mr Joyce had previously said he had been working there for a year.

“Who's pulling whose leg now?” asked the judge.

Mr Noctor said the man had been working with them and then had been out of work for eight months because of an injury and then started back with the employer.

“He was lying to the court,” remarked Judge Cody, adding that Mr Joyce had 89 previous convictions and 34 of them were for theft.

Mr Noctor said the man had been out of work because of a traffic accident and he could get proof of his employment before then.

Judge Cody said there was a reference before the court from Joseph Connors which said Mr Joyce had worked there until 2020 when he had an accident so there was a gap of four years.

“This court doesn't take lightly to be misled and lied to,” said the judge.

The judge also said a bench warrant had previously been required and noting the number of previous convictions he imposed a three-month sentence.

He fixed recognisances for an appeal and they included €500 cash.