Six months in jail for Offaly resident who 'continued to offend'

A MAN with 70 previous convictions was sentenced to six months in prison when gardai re-entered a previous suspended jail term which had been imposed on him.

Martynas Jurkaitis (30), Five Alley Inn, Birr appeared before Tullamore District Court where he was represented by Patrick Martin, solicitor.

Sergeant Richard Thornton told Judge Andrew Cody that Mr Jurkaitis had received a 12-month sentence for theft in 2024 which was suspended for two years but he subsequently was convicted of drugs possession.

That drugs conviction related to the possession of three grams of a controlled substance at Townspark, Birr on June 27, 2025.

Mr Martin told the court that while Mr Jurkaitis was currently not working he had previously worked as a mechanic.

Alcohol was a big issue for him and he was engaging with the Community Alcohol and Drugs Service.

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Judge Cody noted that 12 bench warrants had been issued for the man and he was also subject to a suspended sentence.

Sergeant Thornton said the man had been convicted for breaching the Public Order Act this year, having been found guilty of an offence in 2025 and also last year he had been ordered to complete 60 hours of community service. The community service sentence was for public order offences committed in Tullamore.

Judge Cody activated six months of a 12-month sentence and suspended another six months.

When Mr Martin asked that recognisances could be fixed for an appeal, the judge said it would be in his own bond of €1,000 with an independent surety of €500 cash because the man had “continued to offend”.