Man had 162 previous convictions but 'none when sober'
The case was heard at Athy Courthouse Photo: Aisling Hyland
A MAN with 162 previous convictions was sentenced to 11 months in prison last week after he was convicted of stealing aftershave and a bracelet, however won’t spend any longer in jail than he has to as he is already serving a sentence for an unrelated crime with a release date in November 2026.
“Steve Martin? From Hollywood, Co Kildare or Hollywood across the pond?” quipped Judge Desmond Zaidan when the case was initially called.
Mr Martin (33) with an address c/o the Peter McVerrry Trust in Kerdiffstown, Naas was appearing in Athy District Court from custody charged with the theft of the cologne (€68) and bracelet from Shaw’s, on Duke Street, Athy on 27 May, 2024, as well as groceries worth €38 from Aldi on 20 November, 2024.
As he was pleading guilty Sergeant Dave Hanrahan revealed to the court that Martin had 162 previous convictions – 30 for public order offences, 14 for theft, six for assault, eight for criminal damage, and a number of road traffic offences.
“Did these offences happen when he was on bail?” enquired the judge, however, Sgt Hanrahan did not have that information to hand at this time.
“Obviously, my client has had a very colourful past … but has a serious issue with alcoholism,” explained Mr Martin’s defence barrister Donal Callaghan.
“He started drinking when he was 13, and lost a three-year-old daughter due to a fall,” he added in mitigation.
“I don’t think he ever committed a crime when he was sober.
“He was always co-operative, made full admissions, and never showed any aggression towards gardaí.
“When he is clean he is a very different person.
“The last time he was in custody he lost his grandmother, and that led him down a dark past.
“He is in custody, and has a release date set for November 2026,” he revealed.
“He does have a partner an a child to come back to.
“He is very serious about rehab, and I would ask the court to be as lenient as possible, and I would aske you not to extend his sentence,” said Mr Callaghan.
“This is a man with 162 previous convictions, but who hasn’t committed any offences when sober,” noted Judge Zaidan.
“If that is true it is a very powerful statement on the lack of state-run facilities in Ireland.
“That is a very strong statement, and it further highlights the need for rehab centres outside of prison.
“For someone who coined the phrase ‘didn’t commit while sober’, I think he needs to be assigned (legal aid),” concluded the judge as he sent down Martin for 11 months, but to run concurrent with his present sentence, thereby not extending his expected detention period.
