Drunk caused €2,000 of damage to Athy shop

A MAN who was “transmogrified drunk” when he did over €2,000 worth of damage to shopfront windows in Athy will avoid a sentence if he manages to bring restitution to court by 11 March.

The district court was told how Louis Devereaux (31), with an address at Sli Bhearu, Cois Bhearu, Athy broke the front window of McCauley’s Pharmacy on Leinster Street “in the early hours 6 July, doing €2,000 of damage”, said prosecuting Sergeant Dave Hanrahan.

“Thuggery because he was drunk?” guessed Judge Desmond Zaidan.

“Yes, judge,” confirmed the sergeant, “He also did damage to another window on Leinster Street [Allsorts] but we don’t have the value of that,” said the sergeant.

“We also found a small knife on him,” he added.

Sgt Hanrahan confirmed that Mr Devereaux had previous convictions for drugs and road traffic offences [41, most recent in 2022], and received the benefit of the Probation Act in 2015.

“He’s now working, judge, and he told me he has really landed on his feet with this job [groundworker],” said his solicitor Tim Kennelly.

“He was a very good soccer player in his youth and he supports the right team,” smiled Mr Kennelly, “but Louis went down a rabbit hole. There was no violence, and Louis would describe himself as an eejit. He got transmogrified drunk after a huge row with the missus and went and smashed the windows,” said Mr Kennelly.

“€2,000 for the pharmacy. Will he pay it?” asked the judge.

“”Two weeks,” said the defendant.

“I like his confidence,” said the judge.

“Will you give me a month?” said the more cautious Mr Kennelly, and the judge remanded Mr Devereaux on continuing bai until 11 March.

“Would you indict? What will you do with him, because the anxiety of a custodial sentence is hanging over him,” he explained.

“I’ll deal with it by way of a fine. Get a grip on your life, you have a job now,” warned the judge.