MAN wanted to stay in prison
A 27-year-old man, who was granted temporary release from prison, was before Judge Tom O’Donnell charged with two counts of burglary this week.
Paul Foran with an address at Claughaun Road, Garryowen, was charged with burglaries at Fisherman’s Quay, Grove Island, and a premises at the Old Quarter, off Ellen Street. The court also heard that the accused was found with house breaking implements at 5pm on March 7 last.
Judge O’Donnell heard from Inspector Seamus Ruane of the theft at an apartment at Grove Island where a laptop, iPod, a gold ring and other electronic goods totalling €1400 occurred. CCTV later identified the accused having perpetrated the offence.
On March 13, the court was told that the accused damaged the door of a security premises at the Old Quarter, and later stole two laptops worth €1500 each and a security camera valued at €750.
Inspector Ruane said that the accused was found in possession of the house breaking implements at the premises by gardai.
The court heard that Foran, with 87 previous convictions, 26 of which related to burglaries, was released from prison temporarily “against his will,” according to defence solicitor Sarah Ryan, who said that her client fell foul of the drugs freely available to him while out of prison.
It was confirmed to Judge O’Donnell that the accused received a double 10 month sentence on January 5 last for drugs offences, theft and burglary matters, and was granted temporary release in early March.
Ms Ryan told the court that the accused wanted “to stay in prison to stay off drugs,” and that “as he said himself, at 27 was getting too old for prison”.
The court heard that Foran was making “better progress while in prison as he dealt with his addictions, but went back to drugs when he was released”.
Judge O’Donnell, noting his surprise at the temporary release of Foran, said he had an appalling record and convicted him to 10 months in prison for the Grove Island apartment burglary and 10 months in prison for the burglary at the security premises in the Old Quarter. The criminal damage matter arising out of the second burglary was marked proved and taken into consideration, but Foran received a 10 month sentence for being found in possession of house breaking implements on March 7 last.
All sentences are to run concurrent to March 11 last, the date Foran was taken back into custody.
