A man who put in a window in the house where his 11-week-old child was, and who threatened to kill a man in Custume Place, was remanded to appear in the Circuit Court in Portlaoise yesterday (December 16 ) after it was revealed both these offences had been committed whilst he was still under a suspended sentence.
The District Court in Athlone heard on Wednesday (December 15 ) how Joseph White (29 ), from 30, Ashdale, Clonbrusk, Athlone had put a brick through a patio window in Alverno Drive, Willow Park on February 26, causing €325 worth of damage.
“There was a woman and an 11-week-old baby inside,” said Inspector Aidan Minnock.
“It was a domestic incident, it was his partner and child inside,” explained defending solicitor, Mr Padraig Quinn. “There were some access issues.”
The court then heard how White had been arrested in the early hours of Hallowe’en night in Custume Place after getting involved in an argument with another male in front of a large gathering during which he threatened to kill him. A third arrest in Meadowbrook at 2.10am on November 21 was also detailed, in which White was found in a front garden banging on a door, and referred to an arresting garda with the worst word.
However, when his previous convictions were being read to the court, it was revealed he had been given a two month prison sentence in the District Court on December 8, 2009 and that this had been suspended for 12 months.
According to recent rules with regard to the re-activation of a suspended sentence, this must be done in the Circuit Court, the soonest sitting of which was Thursday in Portlaoise. All the charges White faced in the District Court in Athlone on Wednesday were adjourned for a week, and will be attended to at the last court of the year on December 22.
