A former soldier and Roscommon county footballer, charged with robbing a bookies and escaping from Garda custody on the same day last week, was told he will have to go for trial in the Circuit Court as these alleged crimes occurred whilst he was serving a suspended sentence.
Patrick Hynes (25 ) of 49 Baylough, Athlone was appearing at a special sitting of the District Court in Mullingar on Monday (August 23 ) to apply for bail after being held in custody since the previous Tuesday.
Opposing bail for the State, Garda Brian Lynskey told Judge David Anderson that Hynes had been sentenced to 11 months in prison on July 20 in Athlone, suspended for one year, and the present charges facing the defendant - trespass and burglary on August 11, and the robbery and subsequent escape from custody on August 16 - were allegedly committed within this time.
In his defence, his solicitor told the court Hynes had made a full admission and had “a €20 a day habit”.
“These crimes were symptomatic of heroin use, and the theft was to pay a bad debt,” he said.
“It was broad daylight and he was known to the bookies.”
He went on to explain how his client was an ex-soldier who “showed great potential in his youth and represented his county at football”.
Judge Anderson agreed with the garda and ordered Hynes appear at the next sitting of the Circuit Court in Portlaoise on October 5 on the Section 99 offence, offending whilst under a suspended sentence.
The judge also remanded Hynes to appear before him in the District Court in Athlone on September 9 for a hearing on the three charges he is currently facing.
He told Hynes: “If I give you a custodial sentence then, it will be backdated to today’s date”.
