Court told man living in tent in Offaly is 'in vicious cycle of homelessness and addiction'

A man who has been living in a tent in Tullamore is in a vicious cycle of homelessness and addiction, his solicitor told the local District Court.

Aisling Maloney was speaking on behalf of her client Eoghan Donnellan (27), of no fixed abode, Tullamore, who pleaded guilty to a number of different offences.

Mr Donnellan admitted having a knife with a sharply pointed blade on March 10 last at Main Street, Tullamore, stealing 10 cans of Fat Frog worth €44.40 on January 4 last at Baggots, The Square, Clara, and stealing four cans of Fat Frog, worth €20, at the same store on January 3 last.

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He further admitted stealing a box of Heroes chocolates worth €7 from Leavy's Centra, O'Carroll Street, Tullamore on December 3 last and possessing heroin at Kilbride Street, Tullamore on December 24 last.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns told the court that the prosecution for possession of a blade resulted from a small cheeseboard knife being found on the man when he was searched under the Drugs Act. The heroin, valued at €70, was found during a different search.

Sergeant Kearns said Mr Donnellan had four previous convictions, including one for possession of knives or other articles, and one for theft. He had previously received a one-month suspended sentence.

Ms Maloney told Judge Andrew Cody her client's pleas of guilty had been entered early. She described Mr Donnellan as a troubled young man who was caught between a rock and a hard place.

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Currently living in a tent along the Grand Canal in Tullamore, he was in a vicious cycle in relation to homelessness and addiction and had tried to apply to get on the housing list but he did not have the required documents.

He was a man with addiction issues and Ms Maloney said she did not think he would be in a position to pay compensation.

She asked the court to consider a probation report and stressed that the knife found was a cheese knife which he got from another person's house and was to be used to make a sandwich. It was a blunt knife, added the solicitor.

Ms Maloney said Mr Donnellan was in a very vulnerable situation but was open to getting help.

Judge Cody noted that it was the accused man's second conviction in a short time and he imposed a sentence of three months, suspending it and adjourning the matter initially to April 16 next.

He ordered the preparation of a probation and welfare report and indicated that he would also be ordering the man to appear in court again on June 25 next when the situation in relation to the previous suspended sentence would be considered.

Finally, Judge Cody ordered the destruction of the drugs seized by the gardai.