This article is from page 14 of the 2006-03-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
A 19-year old Ennis man with 30 previous convictions is using his time in jail to try to clean up his act, a court heard.
Mark McCarthy of Millbrook House in Ennis pleaded guilty before Ennis District Court to stealing bottles of spirits worth a total of €110 from Knox’s bar on July 18 and 19 last.
The defendant’s solicitors, Ms Tara Godfrey, told Judge Mangan that McCarthy has had a serious drink problem since he was 15 years old.
When he stole the drink “he was on a binge drinking spree”, Ms Godfrey said.
But she added that he is currently serving a twelve-month jail sentence “and he is committed to using that time to wipe his slate clean.
“He is seeing a psychiatrist and he is using this time to get free of his addictions and get his health and his life back,” said Ms Godfrey.
The court heard that the stolen drinks were not recovered.
Judge Mangan sentenced McCarthy to a further two months in jail for the offences.