Repeatedly stole from bypass sites

A man who repeatedly stole from sites associated with construction of the Enniscorthy M11 bypass was told to give up cannabis.

The address of Robert Steadman was given variously in court documents as Newbridge in Camolin and Coolroe, Coolboy, Tinahely.

However, the 34-year-old told the District Court sitting at Gorey last Thursday that he was now resident in Wexford Town.

A catalogue of offences, including counts of handling stolen property, theft and driving without insurance, to all of which he pleaded guilty.

The judge heard that gates stolen from locations in Camolin, Monageer and Enniscorthy - 11 gates in all, mostly associated with the bypass - were all recovered during a search of the defendant’s property in 2017.

Steadman also admitted stealing four batteries and four mirrors from an M11 site in Ferns in April when the total value of property taken came to €1,200.

He further accepted responsibility for handling 57 kerbs stolen from the motorway works which turned up at his home in Newbridge in May.

The same man was driving a Mercedes which collided with another vehicle in March of 2016, when he proved to be over the limit for alcohol.

He was driving a Volkswagen van on three other occasions, when he was intercepted without insurance.

Arklow-based solicitor Tom Honan told the court that his client was making headway in dealing with a heroin addiction.

Steadman was described as a father of two who married last year and he had family members in court to support him.

Mr Honan reckoned that the defendant was on the way to recovery but, after reading a probation report, Judge Gerard Haughton was not entirely convinced.

Steadman was told to come off cannabis under medical supervision if he wants to have any chance of a jail sentence being suspended.

The matter stands adjourned to January.