Man admits setting papers on fire and stealing beer in Laois

A man admitted setting fire to newspapers, stealing beer and engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour but denied having drugs for sale or supply. 

Paul Davis (39) of 19 Coney Avenue, Coneyboro, Athy, Co Kildare admitted stealing beer valued at €4.80 and €20 of phone credit from Applegreen, Dublin Road, Portlaoise on November 1. He also admitted causing criminal damage by burning newspapers outside a shop at Station Road, Portarlington on November 2, 2025.

The defendant denied having drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Road, Portlaoise on November 1. The charge relates to Zopiclone sleeping tablets. 

His solicitor told a sitting of Portlaoise District Court that “he accepts some of the charges but he doesn’t accept the Section 15(Possession of drugs for sale or supply)”.

She said the defendant was contesting the charge on the basis that the tablets were for his own use. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the Section 15 would have to stand as there were allegedly 336 tablets in his possession. He said a lengthy adjournment would be required if a forensic certificate of analysis was needed for the tablets. 

Judge Peter White ordered  a probation report and adjourned all matters back to Portlaoise District Court on September 22, 2026 for a probation report.