'He might cop on next time' says judge as he jails Midlands man

A MAN who repeatedly damaged property belonging to a publican and a woman in Daingean has received a 12-month jail sentence.

Despite an appeal from a defence solicitor, Judge Andrew Cody refused to suspend two consecutive six-month sentences he imposed on Aaron Campbell (26), Castlekealy Lawns, Daingean.

Tullamore District Court heard Mr Campbell had been convicted of numerous different offences and in addition to breaking a window at the Blackthorn public house and threatening dogs belonging to its owner Brendan Darcy, he had smashed a window of his ex-partner's car.

Sergeant James O'Sullivan also told the court that on May 12 last year a Taser stun gun was found in a Kia Sorrento car which Mr Campbell was in and the accused admitted knowing it was there.

Outlining other offences, Sergeant O'Sullivan said that on September 9, 2021 at 3.40am Mr Campbell was involved in a verbal disagreement with a female and he punched a vehicle.

The defendant also went to Main Street in Daingean and threw a rock through the window of the Blackthorn pub and when he was arrested at 4am he was intoxicated.

On September 27, 2022 at 12.15am, gardai received a call that he was making threats to Brendan Darcy. The accused told Mr Darcy he would harm his two German shepherds saying: “Your dogs are next”.

On October 1 last at 9.05pm he caused damage to property belonging to a woman with whom he was in an “on and off relationship”, said Sergeant O'Sullivan.

The court heard he had sent her a Snapchat saying “I'm on my way to make sh.. of your car” and the woman later discovered a driver's side window had been smashed.

There was also an incident on the night of March 18/19 this year where he broke the windows of his partner's house and then was found acting aggressively at Main Street in Daingean at 1.10am.

Mr Campbell's solicitor, Donal Farrelly, said his client had gone through a difficult childhood and drink seemed to be his problem.

He had been in Cloverhill Prison on remand for three weeks and was assaulted there and had not been in trouble since.

Mr Farrelly said Mr Campbell had now got a Safe Pass and that would enable him to get employment which would be a great help to him and he would pay for the damage if given time.

Sergeant O'Sullivan said a six-month suspended sentence had been imposed on Mr Campbell on November 23 last for assaulting his ex-partner

That offence was committed on November 9 at Castlecourt, Daingean and the offences now before the court pre-dated it. He also had previous convictions for road traffic offences, criminal damage and assault.

Imposing three six-month sentences, two of which were consecutive, Judge Cody said the accused had been given every opportunity to engage with the probation service and had hung up when asked to engage with the restorative justice programme. No compensation had been paid by Mr Campbell.

Mr Farrelly said compensation could be paid when his client obtained employment and he asked for a suspended sentence to be considered.

Judge Cody said no: “He didn't consider going to the probation services. He got plenty of chances.” The judge added: “He might cop on the next time.”

Recognisances were fixed for an appeal.

Tullamore District Court heard last month that Mr Campbell had tried to force his way into his ex-partner's home on November 9 last but she managed to push him back out and ring her son.

When her son arrived on the estate, a row broke out between him and Aaron Campbell. The son fell to the ground on his face.
The court was told that after the fight Mr Campbell put his fist through the living room window of his ex-partner's house and then through the headlights of her car. He was located by gardai hiding in a neighbour's garden. He had penned a letter to his ex-partner expressing his love and regret and saying he hoped they could get back together.

Judge Cody said the injured party had made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with the defendant. He said the letter he had written was quite worrying in this regard and he made it a condition of the suspended sentence that the accused go nowhere near his ex-partner.