Guiltypleatofuel theft

A 22-year-old man who admitted stealing €50 worth of fuel from a local petrol station had the theft charge against him dismissed under the Probation Act after the judge heard he is already serving a sentence for another matter.

Alan Melia, Cheery Orchard Avenue, Ballyfermot, admitted stealing the fuel from Applegreen Northbound on February 25 last year.

His barrister told the judge that Melia is serving a one year sentence in the Midlands Prison. The defendant is, the barrister said, ‘unemployed and lives at home when he’s not in custody’.

The lawyer added that his client’s drug habit was behind his offending but Melia is getting drugs counselling in prison and is off all drugs. The barrister said Melia is remorseful about this charge and ‘the reality of his heroin addiction has come back to hit him’.

Judge Coughlan applied the Probation Act. the company he’s employed by.

Gerard McArdle, (26), Ballykeel Road, Mullaghaban, admitted the offence which happened at the Castletown Road in Dundalk on April 28. The admission was made quickly, solicitor Ciaran Hughes said, because McArdle, who has no previous convictions, was due to move to Singapore four days after his court appearance and ‘wanted to get this completed’.

McArdle has a 24-month visa for the Asian city and Judge Coughlan imposed a three year disqualification and a €75 fine. ing intoxicated at the Avenue Road in Dundalk on April 10 and didn’t give his name and address to the Gardai. He had no previous convictions and Judge Coughlan was told that the defendant is originally from Uganda.

He is married to a woman who has obtained residency in Ireland but he is still awaiting confirmation. He is a professional man by occupation, but is not allowed to work because of his status and gets €19 a week from the state, though his wife and children get additional social welfare.

Judge Coughlan imposed a €5 fine and granted him legal aid. The judge said: ‘He seems to have enough money to get drunk’.