Christmas behind bars for father of new born

A lifelong addiction to heroin and booze denied a man the opportunity of spending Christmas with his new-born child.

Brendan Wall (38), 7 Snipe Lawn, Newcastle, received sentences totalling twelve months at Galway District Court this week for a series of theft offences committed over the past two years to feed his heroin, and more recently, alcohol addictions.

Wall pleaded guilty to a plethora of charges involving the theft and handling of headphones, banjos and an iphone, all of which he tried to pawn to get cash to feed his drug habit.

Detective Thomas Doyle gave evidence that on September 26 last year a member of staff at Cash Creators became suspicious and rang Gardai when Wall tried to sell them a iphone which had no leads.

The owner had “become separated” from her phone on a previous night out, Det. Doyle said, and he had got permission to access the phone records to ascertain who owned the phone and return it to its rightful owner.

When interviewed, Wall claimed he got the phone from another man and he brought it to the shop to attempt to sell it.

Inspector Brendan Carroll told the court Wall stole two banjos, worth €300 and €500 respectively, from Opus on High Street,  on November 6  last year and then pawned them for €140.   The property was later   recovered.

Wall stole two sets of Beats headphones worth €239 each from Fonez, Corbett Court on November 7 last. He also stole three headsets from It’s Magic in Edward Square on June 12 last, but was identified on CCTV and later admitted the thefts.

While being interviewed, Wall also admitted stealing items from TKMaxx and to breaking into two cars at UHG and stealing items from them.

Nothing was recovered.

Wall also admitted stealing a charity box, containing €82, from the Imperial Hotel on February 10, and to the theft of €7 worth of food from Dunnes Stores on June 23 last.

Finally, Wall pleaded guilty to breaking into a vacant house at Upper Newcastle Road on August 7 last year and damaging internal doors.

Insp Carroll said Wall had 36 previous convictions, including several for thefts, trespass, burglaries and criminal damage, for which he had received custodial sentences and suspended sentences in the past.

Defence solicitor, Ronan Murphy said his client had a appalling record due to his 20-year addiction to heroin and, more recently, alcohol.

He said Wall got addicted to heroin when he was 18 and had turned to crime to feed his habit.

Wall, he said, had completed several rehabilitation courses in the past but his heroin addiction had been a struggle for more than 20 years now.

He said Wall was off heroin now for the past 12 months but had turned to drink as a substitute.  He said he now tends to commit crimes when he mixes alcohol with other medication.

Mr Murphy said Wall had been trying to sort himself out, particularly since the birth of his child two weeks ago.

“He is hoping to live with his partner, sort his life out and look after his child,” Mr Murphy said of his client.

Judge Marie Keane imposed sentences totalling 12 months on Wall.

Leave to appeal was granted.