A man who broke into Athlone courthouse last week, who was arrested in possession of a knife on another occasion, and who also attempted to forge a pharmacy prescription, was jailed for a total of 11 months at the District Court last week (March 3 ).
Stephen Gaffey (40 ) of Meadowbrook, Willow Park, Athlone was arrested inside the courthouse at 7.30pm last Wednesday evening (February 24 ) after breaking a window to gain access.
“Was he coming to have his case re-heard?” asked Judge John Neilan.
“Maybe he liked it so much that morning,” suggested Superintendent Aidan Glacken.
Evidence was also heard how Gaffey was stopped by gardai in Brawney Square recently where he was found with €30 worth of cannabis and a kitchen knife which he claimed his uncle gave him.
Gaffey’s previous convictions were read to the court and though they included a two year sentence for arson, the most recent was 11 years ago.
His solicitor Mr Mark Cooney told the judge how Gaffey had been in court last Wednesday but had been “quite delusional” and had been taken to Portiuncula from the courthouse in an ambulance and “doesn’t know how he got back”.
He suggested the knife his client was found in possession of was only domestic, the forged prescription was an “amateurish attempt” because he was out of medication and was “easily spotted by the pharmacist”.
A report from the Central Mental Hospital was submitted to the court on Gaffey and it was revealed he had a problem with amphetamines and methadone.
“As regards the events of last week, he was extremely vague. He was in no fit condition to give instructions last Friday,’ said Mr Cooney.
Having had to deal with Gaffey last Thursday in Mullingar where he presented himself in the dock covered in his own excrement, Judge Neilan accepted Mr Cooney’s mitigation for his client but sentenced him to 11 months in prison for the knife, a concurrent 11 month sentence for the trespass in the courthouse and a similar two month term for the forgery.
The judge ordered Gaffey be treated for his addictions and receive the required psychiatric care.
“If, when matters come up in Mullingar next week [Gaffey still faces charges there] and Mr Gaffey can explain he is taking steps within prison to deal with them, I shall deal with that then,” said the judge.
