Man jailed after failing to pay compensation for stealing car in Laois
The man’s mother and father were in court when he was sentenced
A man has been jailed after failing to come up with €10,000 in compensation for a car he stole from outside a house in Laois.
Michael McDonagh (22) of 76 Castleland Park Avenue, Balbriggan, Co Dublin appeared before Portlaoise District Court in connection with a number of thefts in Laois.
The court previously heard the defendant had stolen a 12 D registered VW Passat CC from outside a house at The Showgrounds, Rathdowney on April 29, 2024. The keys had been taken after the defendant entered a house through an unlocked front door and the car was discovered crashed and written off in Cork. An insurance company refused to compensate the owner due to the nature of the theft.
The man had stolen a 181D Mini Cooper from a driveway in Palmerstown, Dublin on April 28, 2024. It was discovered broken down but undamaged and with its keys in Rathdowney after it broke down.
The accused interfered with a vehicle and stole a black wallet and two key fobs at Hunters Lodge, Emo between April 28 and 29, 2024. The fobs cost €100 to replace. He stole a bank card and Revolut card from a vehicle in Slieve Bloom Heights on April 29 and took a bank card and fuel card from a vehicle at O’Daly Terrace, Rathdowney on the same date.
The man stole a wallet containing €350 and a coin purse from a car at O’Daly Terrace on April 29. He stole a bank card from an unlocked vehicle in Kilminchy, Portlaoise on April 29 and diesel valued at €97.90 from Circle K, Manor Stone, Ballacolla on the same date.
The man’s father Michael McDonagh Senior gave evidence before Portlaoise District Court as the case was being finalised.
He told the court he had spent ten years in prison and “while I was in prison Michael helped his mother”. He described the young man as “good hearted” and said he was the eldest child and was very good with kids.
“Two days before this happened I had a relapse and we had a big fight and I kind of blame myself,” the man said.
Mr McDonagh said he had begun using drugs while in prison and both he and his wife fear their son could do the same. He said the prospect “terrified” them. He said the family hadn’t much money but could gather €450 per month in compensation for five months and he asked that his son be allowed to live with them.
“We have a good family support unit, my wife doesn’t drink or anything like that,” he said.
“You know the loss to the particular lady was €10,000,” said Judge Andrew Cody.
Mr McDonagh said he didn’t know that.
“The car was €10,000. That was written off and she wasn’t able to claim off her insurance,” said Judge Cody. He said at a previous hearing there had been a commitment to gather compensation.
The man said no compensation had been gathered but his friend had a job lined up for the accused. He said the man wanted the court proceedings finalised first so that the accused wouldn’t be taking days off for court.
Anne Doyle BL said her client’s family would make efforts to gather some compensation.
“I would respectfully say that in circumstances where my client and his family are making significant efforts this is essentially a matter that should be before the civil court,” she said.
Judge Cody said he was not hearing a civil claim. He said there had been a previous commitment to save €750 per month. He put the matter back for a second call to check whether any money had been lodged.
When the case was called again, Ms Doyle said there was no money lodged with the defendant’s solicitor.
“As it stands there is no compensation at all, not a cent,” noted Judge Cody.
“She has had to repay a loan of €10,000 on it which she is paying over five years,” noted Judge Cody.
Ms Doyle said her client had not acted alone. She said he was “holding his hands up” and he was not in a position to pay compensation. She said the man was 20 at the time of the offending and he would now like to work as a gym instructor.
Judge Cody said there was a series of offences. He said he read three probation reports in relation to the accused who had previous convictions which he described as “not the most serious”.
Judge Cody sentenced the man to a total of 17 months in prison and backdated the sentence to the date the man went into custody. He fixed recognisance in case of appeal.