Man who resisted arrested told gardai he lived in shopping centre in Tullamore

A bail hearing was told a man who was arrested after fleeing gardai claimed to live in a supermarket in Tullamore. 

John McDonagh (20) of 5 Carton Road, Poppintree, Ballymun, Dublin who also provided an address at Kingswood, Ardan Road, Tullamore, Co Offaly requested bail at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

The defendant was accused of making off without payment of €100, obstruction of a peace officer and providing a false name and address to gardaí at Kingswood, Ardan Road, Tullamore on August 6, 2025. 

Garda Sean Crowley of Tullamore Garda Station said he was objecting to bail under O’Callaghan rules.

“This man fled from Gardaí. He also, when arrested, resisted,” said Garda Crowley, who added that pepper spray was used by arresting gardai.   

He said the defendant then provided an incorrect name, address and date of birth to gardaí. He expressed concern that the defendant wouldn’t turn up for court. 

David Nugent BL said his client suffered with his mental health. He said the man could provide an address in Tullamore for the purpose of bail. 

Garda Crowley said the Dublin address was the address in the garda system and the address which the defendant had given in Tullamore was not correct. “That’s a shopping centre,” he explained. 

The defendant said he hadn’t used his Dublin address in over two years and he was staying at his girlfriend’s address in Tullamore. He then provided an address at Kingswood, Ardan Road in Tullamore. 

Mr Nugent asked the court to consider remanding the defendant in custody with consent to bail while the address was verified. 

However, Judge Michael Ramsey said “I am satisfied to refuse bail” in the case. He remanded the defendant in custody to appear again before Portlaoise District Court via video link on August 14.