Man who is 'fed up being a criminal' seeks long jail term
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court.
A man who is "fed up with being a criminal" asked a district court to give him the maximum prison sentence so he could avail of educational courses while in custody.
Martin McDonagh, aged 31, of 1 The Parks, Barnhall Meadows, Leixlip, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court to criminal damage and failure to comply with a Garda's direction.
Gda Barry Walsh told the court that the defendant's sister contacted Gardaí on March 28, 2024, and said McDonagh had arrived at her house at Brookville Avenue in Swinford looking for his wife, who had left their family home. She said he had been acting aggressively.
Gda Walsh and Gda Darren McDonagh went to the scene at 6.15pm where they met the defendant in the vicinity of the house. They ordered him to leave the area.
However, the Gardaí later received a report that McDonagh had used a fence holder to damage the PVC and glass on the front door, as well as the front window, of his sister's house. Officers arrested him near the scene. A victim impact statement was canvassed but not forthcoming and approximately €500 in damage was caused.
McDonagh has 54 previous convictions and is currently serving a custodial sentence for another incident.
Defending solicitor Cathy McDarby said her mitigation was unusual in that her client wished for Judge Fiona Lydon to impose the maximum sentence for these offences.
Ms McDarby said McDonagh had told her he was "fed up of being an old criminal" and had started completing courses during his time in prison. He was now asking to have the maximum sentence imposed to allow him to continue to take these courses as they would help him come out of prison a better person. The maximum prison sentence a district court can impose is 12 months for a single offence.
The defendant's reason for damaging his sister’s house was that he was "having a bad day".
Judge Lydon acknowledged McDonagh’s request but said she must remain "fair and impartial" from a sanctioning perspective.
She imposed a six-month custodial sentence.
