Man in guilty plea to 15 charges

A 30-year-old addict and homeless man has been told by the judge he is being sentenced to nine months imprisonment as punishment, but more for help to get him off drugs.

Stephen Burke, who has 36 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to 15 charges.

He was convicted on a criminal damage charge, relating to an incident at Fair Street, Drogheda, on 2 February last when a jeep was broken into.

Judge Coughlan back-dated the sentence to 23 March, 2018 and granted legal aid.

The other matters were taken into consideration.

Solicitor Dermot Monahan said Burke is homeless ‘and what he owns is on his back’.

He left school at 14 and has a hopeless addiction. He needs help.