A 21-year-old man who broke into a Ballina shop and was found in a collapsed state in the shop’s store room was before Ballina District Court on Tuesday.
At 4.30am on September 12 2012, gardaí, who were on patrol, noticed that a pane of glass was broken on O’Donnell’s Shop, Dillon Terrace, Ballina. Inside the shop, the cash register had been pulled open and there was coins on the floor. Located inside the store room in an unresponsive state was John McDonagh, 58 St Patrick’s Estate, Ballina. McDonagh was mumbling to himself and an ambulance was called and he was brought to Mayo General Hospital.
Solicitor for McDonagh, John Gordon, said that the defendant “was out of his mind” as he had drunk a bottle of vodka and had also taken his prescription medication.
McDonagh, who has previous convictions, is in a steady relationship and is to become a father in February.
The court heard that McDonagh has paid compensation to the injured party for damage caused to the front door.
Judge Mary Devins remanded him on continuing bail to November 12 2013 for sentencing. If he gets in to any trouble between now and then it will be a custodial sentence, the judge said.
