Stole rucksack and sleeping bag to survive hard times

A man who robbed a rucksack and sleeping bag in Sligo town did so to “help him survive” after he was mugged in Cambodia.

That’s according to his defence solicitor Mr John Anderson, who said his client Stephen Farrell (50) of Grace Avenue, Dromod, Co. Leitrim was pleading guilty to the thefts at Heatons on 14 th June 2017.

Mr Anderson told Judge Kevin Kilrane that Farrell was travelling in Cambodia when he fell victim to a mugging.

He had to be hospitalised and lost all his ID. He spent eight weeks in jail, returned to Ireland and “fell on hard times.”

“The rucksack and sleeping bag was to help him survive Judge,” he said.

“He has now sorted out his life and got his life back on track,” he added.

“How was your stay in jail in Cambodia?” the judge asked Farrell.

“We were not fed and there were armed soldiers watching us,” said Farrell.

He said there were 14 people in his tiny cell and he once had to survive 14 days without food.

“How did you survive 14 days without food?” asked Judge Kilrane.

“Some of the other prisoners used to hoard food and shared their food,” said Farrell.

“Not a nice experience. It’s a tough regime,” noted Judge Kilrane.

He dismissed the charges and gave Farrell the benefit of the Probation Act.

Separately, Aurimas Bagdonas was convicted and fined ¤300for fighting in the Market Yard last month. He pleaded guilty on 8th November after the court heard Gardaí saw him swinging punches at another male and acted aggressively towards them. Mr Tom MacSharry solicitor, defending, said Bagdonas apologised and intended to stay off alcohol.