Jail for Kilkenny man with 284 previous convictions
A prison sentence has been handed down to a Kilkenny man who already has 284 convictions.
Imposing sentence, Judge Patricia Cronin said she could not shy away from that “very high” number of previous convictions.
Before Kilkenny District Court was Wayne McGrory, who is currently serving a sentence on a separate matter, and had an address at the Good Shepherd Hostel, Kilkenny.
He pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in public and using threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.
Sergeant Morgan O’Connor said that on May 11, 2026, there was a “disturbance” at Hebron Road. Gardaí went to the scene where they met Mr McGrory who was unsteady on his feet and slurring his words.
As gardaí were arresting the defendant he resisted and became verbally abusive. He had to be handcuffed.
The sergeant said Mr McGrory had 284 previous convictions.
Solicitor Chris Hogan apologised on his client’s behalf for his behaviour. Unfortunately, he said, Mr McGrory has a “significant addiction to intoxicants”, including alcohol, crack cocaine and diamorphine.
He had a “challenging” upbringing and is now in a cycle of serving a sentence and then reoffending when he gets out and being sent back to prison.
Mr McGrory is trying to get a place in residential treatment, he said.
Judge Cronin noted the apology and guilty plea. However, she said she could not “shy away from” the defendant’s “very high” number of previous convictions. On the charge of using threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour a sentence of two months imprisonment was handed down, to run concurrently to Mr McGrory’s current sentence.