This article is from page 6 of the 2014-11-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
A SHANNON man who admitted stealing a phone at a house party has escaped an immediate jail sentence.
However Judge Patrick Durcan told Kenneth Ryan (21) that he would have no hesitation in sending him to jail if reoffends over the next two years.
At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Durcan imposed a a two month sentence on Mr Ryan after he pleaded guilty to the theft of a mobile phone from a house in Ballycasey, Shannon on July 27, 2014.
The court heard Mr Ryan, with an address at Tradaree Court, Shannon, committed the offence two months after being placed on a probation bond.
Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the phone was discovered on Mr Ryan after he was arrested by gardaí for a public order offence in Shannon. The court heard the phone had been stolen from a woman who had attended a house party in the hours prior to Mr Ryan being detected.
Mr Ryan has previous convictions for drugs, criminal damage and public order. Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client developed quite a signif cant problem with alcohol at an early age but has taken steps to address the issue.
“I would say this is very much a falling off the wagon situation”, she added.
Urging the court to be lenient, Ms Godfrey said her client is a young man with a future.
Judge Durcan imposed a two month prison sentence, suspended on condition Mr Ryan enter into a bond to be of good behaviour.
Mr Ryan entered into the bond. Judge Durcan warned Mr Ryan that if he fell off the wagon again over the next two years, he would serve to full two months.