‘Flippant’ attitude lands man in prison

A 20 year old man who spent a week in prison was told he had been remanded there because of his attitude.

Judge Kevin Kilrane told James McMorrow of 1 Market Court, Market Yard that he didn’t like his attitude when he appeared before him the previous week.

He was “rather flippant” said the Judge who also noted that he had failed to turn up previously.

McMorrow appeared in custody in court though the Judge pointed out that while he had been imprisoned for the week this did not mean he had a record of prison as he had been on remand.

McMorrow pleaded guilty to stealing Canterbury tracksuit bottoms worth €40 from Elvery’s, O’Connell Street on May 12 th 2017.

He also admitted damaging a Nike t-shirt from Heaton’s on December 5 th to the value of €18.

Inspector Paul Kilcoyne told the court the defendant was seen on CCTV taking two pairs of tracksuit bottoms to the changing rooms in Elvery’s and subsequently putting one pair back on the rail, leaving the store with one.

At Heaton’s he took the tag off a t-shirt and left it back on the shelve but it had a hole in it as a result and could not be put out for re-sale. The defendant had seven previous convictions. Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor (defending) pleaded that the defendant had informed him he was no longer taking drugs which he had been under the influence of when he went into the stores.

“He has spent the past week in prison and it has opened his eyes to what is ahead of him. He doesn’t want to go back there.

“It took its toll on him,” he said, adding that the defendant would be returning to live with his mother who was hardworking and with whom he had spent most of his life living with.

Judge Kilrane told the defendant that a lot of people didn’t have life easy but that he could “not trade on this.”

The defendant was remanded on bail to appear at the court on April 4 th next for the purposes of monitoring.

Liberty was granted to Gardaí to re-enter the cases if there was any re-offending.

The defendant admitted to the Judge that he had received three or four cautions from the Gardaí in the past.