Man on theft charges says he needs bail to give him time to find home for dog

Finding a home for a dog was the reason given by an arrested man in his application for bail.

Albert O’Driscoll, aged 39, of no fixed address, was arrested by Garda Shane Masters and charged with five counts of handling stolen property.

The counts relate to the early hours of yesterday, at Magazine Rd in Cork.

Defence solicitor Joseph Cuddigan said the defendant’s main anxiety in getting released on bail was to find a home for his dog.

Mr Cuddigan said: 

“He is anxious to secure accommodation — if one might put it that way — for the dog, because he appreciates that with all of the stolen property, he is facing a jail sentence.”

The solicitor said the defendant would be pleading guilty to all five new charges for handling stolen property and to 10 older charges related to burglary, theft, personal drug possession, and public order counts.

Mr O’Driscoll was called to give evidence in his bail application and said: “I want to find a place for the dog.”

Garda Daniel O’Callaghan objected to bail being given to the defendant.

Judge David Waters said that he would not be granting bail in a case where the accused was facing 10 charges already and now had five new counts against him related to the early hours of yesterday. The judge remanded him in custody until October 6.

It was not possible for the formal guilty pleas to be entered, as DPP directions have not been given on all counts.

The stolen property with which he was allegedly found included an Apple MacBook laptop, an Osprey wallet containing two bank cards, a public service card, and a driving licence.