Couldn’t remember why he smashed neighbour’s window

A MONAGHAN Town man, who threw a rock at a neighbour’s window, and later explained that he was drunk and didn’t know why he did it, was given a four-month prison sentence when the matter was dealt with at Monaghan District Court.

The sentence was made concurrent to a longer prison term already being served by 28-year-old Nathan O’Leary, which means it will not have any effect on his release date. The judge had also taken note of the fact that the defendant’s mother had money in court to compensate the injured party.

Mr O’Leary, of Glenview Drive, Killygowan, Monaghan Town (who appeared from prison by video link) had pleaded guilty to causing damage to the front window of a house at nearby Ard Glas, Killygowan, on April 1 last, and also to being abusive and intoxicated at Glenview Drive on the same occasion.

The cost of repairs to the window in question had come to €150, Sergeant Lisa McEntee told the court. She said Alan McCooey had reported that a window was smashed at his residence after the defendant threw a rock at it.

Gardaí patrolled the area and located O’Leary a short distance away. He was highly intoxicated and slurring his words while unsteady on his feet. When Garda Geoffrey Mullen questioned him about the damage to the window he initially said, “I didn’t do it.”

Then he said asked the garda, “Sure what the f**k are you doing about my house, you lazy b**tard?”

O’Leary was subsequently arrested, and after caution he said, “I don’t know why I did it — I was loaded drunk.”

Judge Patricia Cronin was told O’Leary had 79 previous convictions, including four for criminal damage. Sgt McEntee said the majority of the convictions were for public order breaches, and noted that various prison terms, suspended sentences and community service orders were imposed.

Solicitor Roisin Courtney said her client is currently serving a sentence in respect of more recent convictions and was not due for release until November. He had a serious drink problem, as had others in his family, and he had been in trouble since being a juvenile.

Ms Courtney also pointed out that O’Leary’s home had been subjected to a petrol bomb attack in recent weeks, and that members of the family had to relocate to various places in the meantime.

Asking that Nathan be given credit for his guilty plea, the lawyer said his mother was in court and had managed to raise €150 to compensate for the damage to the neighbouring house.

Imposing a four-month sentence for that offence, Judge Cronin said she was noting the previous convictions, and also the mitigating factors as outlined by Ms Courtney.

The judge made the prison term concurrent to the sentence already being served, and took the intoxication and abusive behaviour charges into consideration on that basis.

It was confirmed to O’Leary that the sentence would not, therefore, extend the time he is to remain in prison.