StoleSponge Bobtoysfrom Applegreen

A man who took Sponge Bob toys from Applegreen, Cullenmore, will have a probation report prepared.

Matthew Fahy (40), 2 Dunsink Drive, Finglas, Dublin 11, appeared in Wicklow District Court last Tuesday.

The court heard that five Sponge Bob toys were taken from the shop on March 7, 2017.

The manager saw two men acting suspiciously. He got the registration of their van and reviewed CCTV on which Fahy was seen taking the toys and going out the door.

Gardai later saw the van at Topaz in Ashford. They searched it and found the toys.

Fahy admitted the offence. The court heard that he had 79 previous convictions, including two for handling stolen property, eight theft and six burglary as well as a number of road traffic matters.

Barrister Shannon Biondi said that her client’s mother left the family home when he was five. He was raised by his father who was addicted to drugs. He was effectively raised by his sister but their father told her to leave the house and she was subsequently killed in a crash. This started him on the path to drug addiction.

Ms Biondi said that her client has taken a number of steps to address his issues and is now free from addiction. He did a two-year residential treatment and stayed on for six months as a volunteer. He then went on to college and studied psychology and social work.

He has two children aged 17 and 14. They mother has passed away and Fahy is due to start a relapse prevention course.

‘For 18 years I was constantly on drugs,’ Fahy told Judge David Kennedy. ‘Drugs were being used in the house, it was very hard to get off them. I got caught up in it and the crimes got worse. I got a leaflet about a place in Cork that would take you right away. I had €40 in my pocket and it was either go buy drugs or get on the bus. I got on that bus and went through what I had to go through and turned my life around.’

His partner was still an active addicts and although he tried to get her linked in with various courses, ‘it just wasn’t getting through.

‘I had 22 years with her and two beautiful children,’ Fahy said.

On the occasion of this offence, his nephew had just died. ‘I was thinking “f” everybody, “f” this, “f” that,’ he said.

‘I held it together and kept on with my meetings,’ he said.

The matter was adjourned to January 23 for a probation report. his client was taken into care at a young age and although bright, left school at a young age. He gravitated towards an illicit lifestyle and taking drugs.

Mr Maloney said that there has been a pattern with his client, in which Nangle stabilises in custody, then deteriorates again after being released.

‘It’s difficult to see if there’s any kind of light at the end of the tunnel for Mr Nangle given the cyclical nature of his offending,’ said Judge David Kennedy. them said he could assist and get him another licence for the sum of €250. ‘He thought it was a bit steep, but it assisted him at the time,’ said Garda Toolis.

The court heard that besides a provisional licence from 1981 to 1982 there was no other licence on record for Doyle.

Doyle told the court that he said in general conversation in the pub that he had to apply for his licence. ‘The chap said he knew someone, that it would save a lot of hassle.’ He handed over the money, a photograph and application form, and his former licence. ‘It came in the post a week and a half later.’

Judge Kennedy said he doesn’t accept what Mr Doyle said. ‘He was offered a licence in a pub for €250. To say he didn’t know it was false begs belief.’

Solicitor Patrick McNiece said that his client is married and has seven children. He is in poor health and awaits surgery.

Judge Kennedy handed down a fine of €750 and disqualified Doyle from driving for two years.