Man with 124 previous convictions is jailed

THE PREVIOUS bad record of Ivan Hendy (32) of 4 Beachside Mews, Riverchapel could not be ignored as he came before the District Court on shoplifting charges.

Judge John Cheatle learned that Hendy twice took alcohol from Pettitt’s supermarket without paying, and that he stole €189 worth of aftershave from a couple of pharmacies.

He also turned up in Wexford where he removed a Samsung phone from a shop. A charge alleging that he was drunk in public at the graveyard in Gorey and outside Paddy Power’s was outstanding.

All offences were admitted and barrister Jordan Fletcher accepted that the defendant had further matters outstanding in a Dublin court.

Hendy, whose father attended court, was on a methadone programme.

The court was informed that the accused had 124 previous convictions imposed at courts in counties Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin, from Swords to Wexford over the years.

The record included counts of burglary, theft, robbery and assault.

Mr Fletcher suggested that the prison system was not working for Hendy and asked for him to be given a chance to arrange residential treatment as an alternative.

However, Judge Cheatle felt he could not overlook the defendant’s appalling previous record and the multiplicity of cases before the court as he handed down two consecutive four month sentences for stealing from pharmacies.