Offaly man who was 'unlawfully at large' now back in jail

A MAN who did not return to prison after temporary release is now back behind bars after an appearance at Tullamore District Court.

Martin Cawley (30), with addresses at Flat above Eclipse Hair Salon, Harbour Street, Tullamore, and Puttaghaun, Tullamore, was before the court on Wednesday (March 4) after being convicted in his absence of a drugs offence the previous Monday.

On March 2 a warrant was issued for the sentencing of Mr Cawley by Judge Andrew Cody who heard a piece of tissue containing a white powder in a plastic bag was taken from the man at Harbour Street on June 11 last year.

He was subsequently charged with possessing a controlled drug and Garda John Dunning said the substance was seized after a bench warrant for the arrest of Mr Cawley was executed at his address above the hair salon.

Garda Dunning added that when the accused was cautioned and asked what it was, he replied: “Go ahead and test it, it's not cocaine.”

The substance was sent to Forensic Science Ireland for testing and “came back positive” for cocaine, said Garda Dunning. The value of the drug was €30.

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The court was also told on Monday the accused had 27 previous convictions and also had an outstanding suspended sentence for obstruction under the Misuse of Drugs Act dating from January 2025.

Because that sentence was suspended for two years it could be activated by his latest conviction.

On Wednesday Garda John Connolly told the court he arrested Mr Cawley the previous day at Chapel Street, Tullamore on foot of the bench warrant issued on Monday but said the man was also the subject of 10 prior warrants going back to 2018.

David Nugent, BL, defending, noted Mr Cawley had a mark to his face which was the result of a collapse brought on by a seizure and that was why he had not been in court on Monday.

When the Garda Connolly said the seizure had been on Friday Mr Nugent said his client told him he was in hospital after the seizure and did not remember any more because he was “in a coma”.

In relation to the accused's claim that he was in a coma, Mr Nugent said he had “nothing to back that up” and the man accepted he was not in court on Monday.

Judge Cody said that while he would not deal with the matter of the man's non-appearance in court immediately, he would sentence him for the cocaine possession.

Mr Nugent said Mr Cawley suffered from a long-term addiction and had sought and received help but had a relapse.

The addiction had a grip on him and contributed to his seizures and he was trying to navigate his way through the medical system which is “full to the brim” of people with addictions.

Garda Connolly said that Mr Cawley was currently unlawfully at large and would be going to the Midlands Prison following his court appearance.

He had been serving a sentence of eight months but did not finish it because he had not returned after being released for a week.

Judge Cody sentenced him to three months for the cocaine possession offence but suspended that prison term for three years.

He remanded him to March 18 next for consideration of the offence of failing to appear in court.

The matter of the other suspended sentence will also come before Tullamore District Court on that date and the judge said Mr Cawley can appear by video link.