Man with over 300 convictions appears at Kildare court

A judge declared he was “stunned” when he was notified that the defendant before him had “over 300” previous convictions, the first when he was just nine years old.

Appearing in Naas District Court this week (6 February) from custody was Peter Brazil (46), with a given address at Roscourt Grove in Lucan, charged with trespass and burglary at the NutriQuick premises in Blessington Industrial Estate on 12 April, 2024.

The court was quickly informed that Brazil was appearing from incarceration, after being sentenced to four years in prison on 22 January at Portlaoise Circuit Court for “endangerment”.

Informed of the guilty plea, and seeking to make a quick ruling that wasn’t going to affect Mr Brazil’s overall sentence after both dock and bench nodded acknowledgement of each other, Judge Desmond Zaidan asked the investigating officer how many previous convictions the defendant had, and Mr Brazil smiled over at his familiar foe.

“Over 300,” said the garda.

When Judge Zaidan regained his composure, he asked the garda when was his first, but Brazil answered.

“When I was nine. I was sent to St Joseph’s (Industrial School – known as ‘Ferryhouse’) in Clonmel. When I got out at 15 I started smoking heroin,” he admitted.

“That’s a bit depressing, is that place still open?” asked the judge.

“No,” said Mr Brazil.

Have you any family?” asked the judge.

“No”.

“Have you ever had a wife?” 

“No, but I have six kids, and one grandkid,” said Mr Brazil.

“Can you ever see a life outside prison?” asked the judge.

“I was doing ok, then I lost me ma four years ago, and my da six weeks later, so I went back on the drink, and back in Mountjoy shortly after,” he revealed.

“Now, is the best I ever felt,” he added.

Barrister Donnacha Craddock told the court that at present he is attending prison lessons and is “learning reading, writing, and maths”.

“It is depressing that he has to be in his 40s before learning the Three R’s,” said the judge.

“There was some of the property was recovered, and you see how determined he is to engage with his children on release, I plead do not extend his sentence,” asked Mr Craddock. Judge Zaidan convicted on the burglary charge, and sentenced him to one year, but ordered it be concurrent.

“Thanks very much, your honour, thank you,” said a very relieved man as he left court to return to prison for at least the next three years.