Limerick man who ‘wanted to be arrested’ has wish granted
'Bravado': Solicitor John Devane
A MAN found loitering outside a house in Southill refused to leave when directed by a garda and said he wanted to be arrested.
“He said he would break the windows of the house if necessary,” Sgt Donal Cronin said in respect of 36-year-old Joseph Brophy, of Maigue Way, Carew Park.
Gardai had received a report of a male acting suspiciously at Star Court at around 8.25pm on November 5, 2012. When approached by Garda Randal Considine, Mr Brophy had asked him “what’s your problem?” and become aggressive. He was arrested under the Public Order Act and pleaded guilty to threatening and abusive behaviour and failing to follow garda directions.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly asked whether there was any connection between the house in question and the accused.
“He doesn’t know why he was outside the house. He doesn’t know the occupants,” said solicitor John Devane.
“And yet he was still willing to break windows,” the judge said.
“That was more bravado than anything else,” Mr Devane replied.
Mr Devane said his client was making efforts to return to education and work through the Tus programme and he submitted a letter from PAUL Partnership where his client would be assessed for training.
“Is this the man who told gardai to f**k off when he was charged? If he turns up with the same attitude he had when charged, he is unlikely to go very far with the Tus programme,” the judge observed.
Mr Brophy also pleaded guilty to the theft of €30 worth of alcohol from Tesco in Roxboro on October 22 last.
He had made ready admissions to this offence and the property was recovered.
Mr Devane said his client, who has 20 previous convictions, should be given some credit for having a clean record between 2007 and 2012. His efforts to return to work were sincere; he had “no wish to be another unemployment statistic” and wanted to support his five children, Mr Devane said.
Mr Brophy was fined €150 for theft while Judge O’Kelly sought a probation report on the public order matters, adjourning the case to May 8.
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Wednesday 22 May 2013
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