Laois shop ‘full of blood’ after burglary

A man who burgled a shop in Laois asked to be jailed in the ‘drug free’ wing of the Midlands Prison. 

Mark Walsh (45) of No Fixed Abode, Charles Stewart Hostel, Parnell Square, Dublin 1, admitted burgling Corrib Oil, Portlaoise on July 15, 2025. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said a probation report was prepared for the court. He said his client had been in custody for the past three weeks and he had struggled with alcohol and more recently crack cocaine but was now free of all substances. 

“He feels if he is actually released he may fall back into old ways”, said  Mr Meagher. 

“He has asked that the court might consider giving him a sentence”, he told Judge Susan Fay. 

Mr Meagher said his client had been staying at hostels in Dublin and was exposed to temptations.  

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the burglary at Corrib Oil in Portlaoise occurred at 2.30am. He said the defendant used a metal implement to smash the front window of the shop and gain entry. He stole four bottles of oil and a pack of ham valued at €48 and the incident was caught on CCTV, said Sgt Kirby. 

“He was arrested and detained and in fairness to him, made full admissions”, said Sgt Kirby. 

Detective Garda John McGuinness said “the front window of the shop was completely smashed to gain entry”. He said the incident would have discommoded the shop owners as “the place was full of blood” because the defendant was cut during the burglary. 

Mr Meagher said “the items that were stolen feed into the narrative of where he was at”. He said “crack cocaine is becoming a complete scourge in recent years”. 

“Apparently there is a drug free wing in the Midlands”, said Mr Meagher. He said it was the D Wing and his client wished to be sent there. 

Judge Susan Fay noted the defendant was doing well in custody. “This is a serious offence with serious consequences for the shop owners”, she said before imposing a nine month sentence backdated to February 23. 

Mr Meagher asked Judge Fay to consider suspending a portion of the sentence on condition he engage with addiction services on release. 

Judge Fay agreed to suspend the last two months of the sentence for two years on condition he engages with services. She granted legal aid in the case.