Offending has to stop – Kilkenny solicitor tells client he’s ‘walking thin line’
A man has been warned he is walking an “exceptionally thin” line on his appearance before Kilkenny District Court.
Hanze Hassan, Kilkenny Inn, Vicar Street, pleaded guilty to charges of theft, failing to appear in court and a public order offence.
The court heard that on November 11, 2025, at about 2.15am, Mr Hassan was asked to leave his accommodation because he was “causing a nuisance” to other residents and staff.
Gardaí observed Mr Hassan on Vicar Street. He was highly intoxicated.
He had no place to stay and gardaí had concerns for his safety. He was arrested and taken to the garda station.
On November 25, at 5.30pm, Mr Hassan went into Dunnes Stores, Kieran Street.
He put alcohol worth €22.50 into his jacket and left without paying.
He was later arrested and the property was not recovered.
On July 21, 2026, Mr Hassan went into the off licence area of Dunnes Stores, Kieran Street.
He took cans of Heineken, worth €17.50, and exited the shop without paying.
Gardaí arrested Mr Hassan a short distance away. He did not have the alcohol.
Judge Patricia Cronin was also told that Mr Hassan had failed to appear in court a week earlier.
Solicitor Alex Rafter said his client is from the war-torn country of Somalia and has been in Ireland for six years. He came here for a better life.
He is now 26, and while he initially went to Dublin and didn’t get on well there, he had secured employment for a time in Kilkenny.
It was accepted the defendant had a ‘small issue’ with alcohol. He had cooperated with the gardaí when he was arrested.
Mr Rafter said he had communicated to his client that “the offending has to stop” and that he is “walking a thin line” in relation to going into custody.
Judge Cronin said she was concerned that this was Mr Hassan’s third conviction for failing to appear in court.
Taking into account the facts and mitigation, on one of the theft charges a fine of €200 was imposed, with the second theft charge and the public order charge taken into consideration.
Addressing the three failing to appear in court convictions, Judge Cronin said she noted that Mr Rafter said his client was “walking a thin line”, and she emphasised it is an “exceptionally thin” line.
On the conviction, she imposed a prison sentence of two months, suspended for 12 months.
“He has to realise if he signs a bail bond he must come before the court,” Judge Cronin said.