Cork man jailed for only carrying out four of 100 hours of community service

A Cork man who failed to complete a Community Service Order (CSO) as directed by the District Court has been sent to jail.

Court presenter Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Clonakilty District Court that Stephen Tanner, aged 31, of Woodlands, Clonakilty, had not carried out a CSO as directed by the court. 

Giving evidence, probation officer Deirdre Coakley told the court that Mr Tanner was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, but had only attended one induction meeting which had accounted for four hours of the order.

The court heard that Mr Tanner had not made any effort to contact the Probation Service since the induction meeting and still had 96 hours of the CSO outstanding.

Mr Tanner told the court that he had not been contacted and said that he “had made an effort” to attend the hearing in Clonakilty despite being unwell.

Judge Treasa Kelly told Mr Tanner that the 12-month period during which he could carry out the CSO had expired and she had little option but to impose a custodial sentence as a result.

Mr Tanner said that he was willing to carry out the order and stated that sending him to prison would be “unjust”. 

Judge Kelly imposed a 30-day custodial sentence and said: “You went for the induction and then you didn’t turn up.”

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.