A Dublin man, who stole a bag from a bus and committed criminal damage at Ceannt Station after appearing in court, used up all his chances when he received five months detention at Galway District Court this week.
Karl Fogarty (20 ) with an address at 6 Corduff Close, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, appeared before Judge Mary Fahy last Monday and pleaded guilty to handling stolen property, namely a rucksack containing clothing, toiletries, personal items, and foreign cash valued at €150, at The Quality Hotel, Oranmore, Galway on January 24, 2008. Total value of the items was €500. The court then heard that the defendant had failed to appear in court on Febuary 13 and June 9 and that there was also a charge of criminal damage.
Inspector Mick Coppinger said that on January 24 the defendant and a young woman got off a bus, coming from Dublin, at Oranmore and took the bag before booking into the Quality Hotel. When gardai arrived at the room Fogarty first denied all knowledge of taking the bag, however, when gardai looked through the room they could see that the bag had been thrown out the window.
The defendant had then been at Ceannt Station where he broke the window of a car which cost the injured party €150 to fix. Inspector Coppinger said that Fogarty had been in Galway dealing with the other matter on May 19 when he committed this offence. The inspector said that the defendant had nine previous convictions which include a charge of threatening and abusive behaviour, namely violent behaviour in a garda station, for which he recieved a two month suspended sentence.
Defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn said that his client was a young man who had very serious difficulties as he is an “out and out alcoholic”. Mr MacLynn said that Fogarty had been trying to address these difficulties but all attempts have failed. He said that his client had €150 to pay compensation.
Judge Mary Fahy said that she would take into account the payment of €150 compensation and that she would take the plea of guilty into account. However, she said the defendant had been given a chance before and that he had committed criminal damage while appearing in court. Fogarty received a total of five months detention. Recognisance was fixed on his own bond of €800 with an independent surety of €2,000.
