Damaged tencarswith hammer

A Dromiskin man who damaged ten cars at an underground car park in Dundalk, has been given a four month sentence.

Stephen McVeigh, (35), originally from Commons Road, Dromiskin and with an address at 27 Riverside Crescent, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage at Tain Court, Bridge Street on May 20 and trespass at a house at St Mary’s Road on the same date.

Judge Brennan heard how Gardai responded to a call about damage to cars at the underground car park and found windscreen and passenger windows had been smashed.

A man was seen leaving the area on a bike and CCTV showed he was carrying a yellow object, which turned out to be a hammer and which was later found under a car at St Mary’s Road.

McVeigh was arrested and made admissions’, Gardai said.

He admitted having the bike and the hammer and being at the underground car park. Gardai said that while McVeigh ‘didn’t explicitly admit it, he said there was a good chance it was him’. Repairs cost in excess of €2,000. Solicitor Frank McDonnell said it was his client’s birthday in July and McVeigh had battled drug addiction for a long time and it had ‘blighted his life’.

Mr McDonnell said: ‘He’s had great opportunity in his life which was not taken by him. This is the end of the prosecutions against him and he received a six month sentence on July 16’.

Judge Brennan imposed a four month sentence to run from last Wednesday. ‘certain of assaulting a man, causing him harm, outside the Spirit Store on August 30 2014.

In addition, Bird is accused of assaulting a second man, causing him harm and production of an article, a glass bottle, at the same location on the same date.

At the district court last week, Judge Brennan was told the DPP had consented for the men to be sent forward for trial after books of evidence were served on them.

They were sent forward to Dundalk Circuit Court on October 4, on bail, on their own bonds of €1,000. Both were granted legal aid. 7, recommending 120 hours instead of a six month sentence. He imposed a five year driving ban also.