Kilkenny youth threw bike and rocks at cars on city road - endangering traffic

A young Kilkenny man has been jailed for 10 months following his conviction on charges of endangering traffic, assault causing harm and making threats to kill or injure.

Calvin Barry, 13 Fr Delahunty Terrace, Kilkenny, had also pleaded guilty to six charges of causing criminal damage.

Charges arose out of incidents where the young man threw things at cars using the Old Callan Road, including, on one occasion, a bicycle.

Sergeant Morgan O’Connor said the first incident occurred on December 26, 2023, at 6.50am on College Road, Kilkenny.

A man reported he had been driving on the road when a rock was thrown at his windscreen, causing €500 of damage.

At the same place and time a second man reported to gardaí that a cement block had been thrown and hit the front passenger window of his car. It was completely smashed, causing €500 of damage.

Mr Barry was identified in both cases.

On Monday, January 1, 2024, at 2pm on the Callan Road, gardaí received a report that a male had smashed a window with a rock.

A rear passenger window and door of a Peugeot car were damaged to the cost of €500.

The car had been in motion at the time, then stopped.

When this car stopped a second car, a Seat, that had been travelling behind it moved to overtake. As it did Mr Barry threw a large rock and smashed the front passenger window, causing €362.30 of damage.

Mr Barry was identified.

He was charged with endangerment as the vehicles were in motion at the time, the court was told.

On January 29, 2024, a woman was driving at the Old Callan Road when she observed a man in his 20s, wearing black clothing. He threw a bicycle at her car, causing €2,800 worth of damage.

Mr Barry had no previous convictions, the court heard.

Solicitor Chris Hogan said his client had asked him to apologise to the court and to each of the injured parties.

These are difficult offences to explain, the solicitor said, and Mr Barry finds it difficult to explain his offending behaviour.

Mr Hogan said there was a background of intoxicant use, alcohol, tablets and cannabis. His client also has mental health difficulties.

When arrested Mr Barry made certain admissions, the solicitor said. Because of his intoxication he could not remember each incident but when shown CCTV he identified himself. Mr Barry is on medication now, he was not at the time, said Mr Hogan. When taking medication he is pleasant to deal with, when not, he is a different person, Mr Hogan said of his client. He asked the court to take his client’s youth into consideration. He is 20.

Judge Geraldine Carthy said the lack of previous convictions was a mitigating factor. Aggravating was that this was not a once-off. This was a series of events and a serious amount of damage had been caused, causing a financial burden on the injured parties. Endangerment was a very serious offence to come before the court, she added.

Saying she would ‘absolutely’ take into account that Mr Barry has mental health challenges and was noting his substance misuse as well. The case merited a custodial sentence, she said.

On one of the criminal damage charges Judge Carthy imposed a 10-month prison sentence, marking all other charges as convicted and taken into consideration.

Addressing Mr Barry, the judge said she hopes when he gets out ‘the other end’ he will be ‘another’ Mr Barry.