Man claims he was too busy working in bog to attend Garda station - on 29 occasions

Stephen Maguire

A man facing a spate of theft charges has told a Judge he couldn't sign on at a Garda station on 29 occasions - because he was too busy working in the bog.

Martin O'Hara was brought before Letterkenny District Court in Co Donegal by detectives for continually breaching his bail conditions.

The 38-year-old told Judge Eiteain Cunningham that this was his first job for years and that he simply couldn't make it to Ballyshannon Garda Station to sign on.

O'Hara is due to sign on three times a week at Ballyshannon Garda Station but has missed signing on 29 times since April.

Detective Garda Shonagh Rowley told the court that she met O'Hara by arrangement and was now applying for O'Hara's bail to be revoked.

Solicitor for O'Hara, Mr Rory O'Brien said his client has employment for the first time in a “considerable number of years” and he is “finally putting a right step forward”.

O'Hara said he held his hands up and told Judge Cunningham that he was “trying to better my life” and was not seeking to make excuses for not signing on.

O'Hara said he was working in the bog and also doing some painting, adding “I do a bit of everything. A jack of all trades and a master of none.”

He said that he was homeless, has been sleeping in a van, but has been working since April, which is his first employment since the early 2000s.

Mr O'Brien asked Judge Cunningham to give O'Hara “one last and final chance and to reset the bar in terms of his bail”. A letter speaking highly of O'Hara was shown to gardai.

Sergeant Maurice Doyle asked O'Hara why he did not apply to vary his bail conditions when he last appeared in court.

“That was my downfall,” said O'Hara, who admitted that he made a mistake in not telling his solicitor about his employment at an earlier date.

Sergeant Doyle put it to O'Hara that he had shown a “blatant disregard for bail conditions” and the defendant said he was “begging” the Judge for one more chance.

Judge Cunningham said it was concerning that there were 29 alleged breaches of the condition and said: “When the court considers bail, it does so on condition that they are adhered to rigorously.”

Judge Cunningham said on the basis that there did seem to be some form of rehabilitation in place, she would afford “one final opportunity” to O'Hara.

“I want to be extremely clear that the court will keep this under strict monitoring to ensure there is not one deviation,” Judge Cunningham said.

Judge Cunningham warned him that the matter will be kept under very close monitoring, and he faces a spell in custody if he is found in breach of conditions again.