'Buck up': Judge warns Limerick man with over a 100 convictions

A MAN has been reprimanded in Limerick District Court for his lack of engagement with the Probation Service.

Jonathan Hannon, 33, with an address at St Patrick’s Hostel, was charged with threatening and abusive behaviour on Clare Street on May 25, 2025.

The man has been instructed to attend meetings with a probation officer, which he has missed twice.

The court further heard that the man would not answer phone calls from the Probation Service.

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Judge Patricia Harney commented, “This is a man with 104 previous convictions”.

The judge said, “This business of not turning up to the probation service is not on” and warned the man that “prison might not have worked for you but it’s the only tool left” at her disposal, should the man continue to not engage.

Solicitor Sarah Ryan, said her client is “dealing with an intellectual disability” and added “he’s not offending as much as he was”.

Ms Ryan further added that the “sergeant knows he’s not seeing his name as much as he used to before”.

Judge Harney stated that the man’s behaviour is “quite wilful and he’s playing it like a violin... He has to buck up”.

The court heard that Mr Hannon has 228 hours of court mandated community service outstanding.

The judge adjourned the case to a date in April, and directed the man to engage with the probation service and fulfil his community service order.

-Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme