A Galway man who returned home to face the music after fleeing the jurisdiction a decade ago fell off the wagon which resulted in him having to face historical as well as new charges.
Before Judge Liz Healy at Galway District Court was Gary Cronin with an address given as 511 Bath Rd, Brislington, Brighton who was charged with the theft of goods to the value of €190.73 from McSharry’s Pharmacy, The Crescent. The goods were not recovered.
On April 25 Cronin was spotted on a Garda camera breaking the lock on an e-scooter in the city centre. When Gardaí arrived, he threw the scooter at them and fled, pursued on foot by Gardaí. When they caught up with him, he kicked out and when searched, a serrated knife was found in his waistband. Cannabis to the value of €50 was also found on him. The scooter was returned undamaged to the owner.
Judge Healy was told the defendant had 107 previous convictions, 31 of which were from the UK.
His solicitor said Cronin was 32 and had six children ranging in age from 16 to two. He had come back to Galway to deal with the matters which were hanging over him since he left for the UK ten years ago. He had a heroin problem in the past but he had worked cable laying in England and more recently on the railways and had a job waiting for him when he returned.
He had a relapse when he returned home but had contacted the HSE in Mervue with the view to getting on a methadone programme. He had been prescribed Valium and blamed a reaction to that for his behaviour.
He wanted to return to the UK as he had not seen his children since March and had missed a Communion ceremony.
The defence pleaded that he was doing well in prison and studying for his Junior Cert in an effort to better himself.
Judge Healy said she took into account his pleading guilty to all charges, including those from 2015. She imposed €750 fines on these and banned him from driving for four years.
For the theft from the pharmacy, the e-scooter incident and possession of a knife at four-months prison sentence was imposed. Other matters were taken into consideration.
