Serial Enniscorthy offender has turned his life around

A YOUNG man told Gorey District Court last week he has turned his life around and is now off drugs and is working full-time.

Judge Grainne O’Neill was told that Charlie Hollwill (20) of Carrigbruce, Enniscorthy, committed multiple offences between April 12, 2015 and September 4, 2016.

He and another individual were seen breaking windows at St Patrick’s Special School, Enniscorthy, on April 12, 2015. They cost €900 to repair, and no compensation has been paid.

He was arrested on the day and charged with criminal damage. He was also charged with damaging a patrol car. He became violent in the patrol car on the way to the station. He pulled an internal door handle out of place, but it was fixable.

Sgt Victor Isdell said that restorative work was carried out at the school by the young man.

Next on the list was criminal damage at Reynaers Ltd., The Still, Enniscorthy, on July 23, 2015. He was seen on CCTV breaking a front window in the early hours. It cost €195 to replace, and no compensation has been paid.

Gardaí searched him for drugs at Cathedral Street, Enniscorthy, on October 31, 2015; and found a knife with a four-inch blade. He said it was for his own protection. He was charged with possession of a knife.

Gardaí searched him again for drugs on January 7, 2016, this time at Bellefield Road, Enniscorthy. They found cannabis herb worth €25, and charged him with drugs possession.

He was seen urinating on the window of Doyle’s pub, The Duffry, on March 26, 2016, and had a smell of alcohol on him. He was charged with disorderly conduct.

On April 1, 2016, gardaí received reports of damage to three businesses in Enniscorthy town. Hollwill was seen on CCTV and later admitted causing criminal damage at Bruce Betting and The Orchard on Cathedral Street, and at D Bar, Templeshannon on March 31, 2016. Total damage amounted to €800, and no compensation has been paid.

The same night, after midnight into April 1, he and another individual broke into the Waterfront Leisure Centre, Templeshannon. They got in through a rear window, and stole a cash box containing €140. His residence was later searched and he admitted the burglary, but the coin box wasn’t found. Some €600 worth of damage was caused at the premises.

At 10.30 p.m. on April 19, 2016, gardaí were called to a green area at the Paddocks estate in Enniscorthy, and found him lying face down. He then started to vomit. He was very intoxicated, and an ambulance was called.

Finally, gardaí were called to deal with an incident at his home at 4.30 p.m. on September 4 last year. As Garda Alan Collins approached the house with a colleague, he saw the defendant coming towards him, waving a butcher’s knife which had a 12inch blade.

‘He told the gardaí to f**k off or he would stab them,’ Sgt Victor Isdell told the court.

‘He told Garda Collins “if you come in here, I’ll cut your throat”,’ he added. The defendant then dropped the knife and fled the scene. He was later arrested.

He had one previous conviction for assault causing harm, and got community service in lieu of prison.

Solicitor Lana Doherty said her client was now drug free. She said the probation report before the court was ‘quite positive.’

She said he’d had quite a change in his life. ‘He was doing cocaine, ecstasy,’ she said. ‘His parents were in fear of him. He was out of control.’

He was later released into the care of a brother, who ‘brought him around,’ she said.

Ms Doherty said her client completed his community service, and is now employed on the Enniscorthy bypass and is doing well. ‘His parents have brought him home, and he’s drug free,’ she stated. ‘His appearance and attitude have changed quite dramatically.’

Judge O’Neill did a rough calculation and estimated that around €2,600 worth of damage was caused, and hadn’t been paid.

Charlie Hollwill took to the stand and told her he is now working as a lab technician testing soil.

‘I kinda lost hope,’ he told her, saying he went through a traumatic experience growing up. He got hooked on drugs, an explained that he carried the knife because he was paranoid.

He said he worked with the caretaker in St Patrick’s school for a month. He added that he is prepared to pay for the damage.

His relationship with his family has dramatically improved. He said if he hadn’t gone through the court system, he would still be the same as he was, and he said his time spent in custody was ‘an eye opener.’

He apologised to Garda Collins and his colleague for making the threats. He said he had saved €1,400 so far, and needed time to come up with the rest.

Garda Collins was then contacted to see if there had been an apology, and he said there was no formal apology but they’d had several conversations during the year where he had expressed remorse. He agreed the defendant was a different character now.

Ms Doherty asked for time to produce the €1,400 from his savings account. Judge O’Neill gave him until July 12 for this to be paid, and asked for a payment plan for the balance when the case comes back before her on that date.