Householder caught man trying front door of house in Laois

A court was told a householder answered his door to another man who was attempting to turn the handle from outside. 

David Byrne(36) of Apartment 3, St Francis House, Gort Na Noir, Abbeyleix pleaded guilty to stealing money from a car, drug possession, trespass and interfering with a vehicle at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

He was accused of unauthorised interference with a vehicle and theft from Corran Na Noir on April 17, 2025.  On the same date he was accused of trespass at property at Gort Na Noir and trespass at a property at Corran Na Noir. He was also accused of having 34 benzodiazepine tablets valued at €68 at Portlaoise Train Station on June 5, 2024. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant was searched by members of the Laois Drugs Unit at Portlaoise Train Station and found to be in possession of the drugs without a prescription on June 5, 2024. 

He said €5 in change was stolen from a car parked in a driveway at Corran Na Noir on April 17 and the defendant was identified on CCTV exiting the car. 

Sgt Kirby said the CCTV also captured the defendant “approaching the front door and attempting to open the front door” of the house before walking to the side of the property at Corran Na Noir.

At 12.12am at another property he “looked in the sitting room window” before “he tried to turn the handle” and the homeowner “answered the door to Mr Byrne which caught him by surprise,” said Sgt Kirby. He said the defendant mumbled something and left.  

He said the man had been cooperative when arrested by gardai and he had a number of previous convictions. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was a young man who had battled an addiction to drugs for a number of years. “He tells me that he is now drugs free,” he remarked. 

Mr Meagher said the man had completed a programme with Merchants Quay and was attending with his probation officer. The man was also engaged with LOETB who had a place for him in a barber’s course, he said.

Mr Meagher told the court that his client had been under the influence when he committed the offences in the vicinity of his own apartment in Abbeyleix. He said the man was “particularly ashamed” over the offending. “He was actually looking for cigarettes,” said Mr Meagher. 

“He had no right to be on the properties at all, he totally acknowledges that,” said Mr Meagher. 

Judge Susan  Fay said the defendant had a large number of previous convictions. She said she would like a victim impact statement in the case and she requested an up to date report from the probation officer and evidence he was attending a barber’s course. 

She adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on October 6 for a finalisation.