Prison sentence handed down to repeat offender at Kilkenny Court

A defendant who pleaded guilty to public order and begging offences was handed down a six month prison sentence at Kilkenny District Court.
Darren Crosby, Good Shepherd Centre, Church Lane, Kilkenny admitted being intoxicated in a public place and to engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at Ballyragget Pharmacy, Castle Street, Ballyragget on August 11, 2023. The court heard that on the date in question gardaí were called to the premises at approximately 4pm and found the defendant lying on the floor of the pharmacy in an intoxicated state.
Mr Crosby also pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in a public place and to engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at Hebron Road, Kilkenny on September 1, 2023. The court heard that at 6.10pm gardaí arrested the defendant for being intoxicated in a public place as he was ‘unsteady on his feet’. The defendant was aggressive to gardaí and had to be restrained due to the level of aggression.
Sergeant Morgan O’Connor also outlined to the court that on May 4, 2023 gardaí received a report of a male lying on a footpath in an intoxicated state at The Square, Ballyragget adding that the defendant was arrested on that date for his own safety.
A plea was also entered to also charge of intoxication in a public place at St Canice’s Cathedral on June 29, 2021 at 1.30pm.
The defendant also pleaded guilty to a begging charge at the Market Slip, Kilkenny on March 23, 2023. The court heard that on the date in question the defendant was holding out a paper cup and was impeding passerbys. One woman offered the defendant a sandwich and the defendant replied, “I don’t want a sandwich, I want money.”
Solicitor Chris Hogan said that his client is currently serving a three month sentence and apologises for his behaviour.
“He now realises the cause of his drinking and when he is sober he is engaging with the services to deal with this,” he said.
Judge Geraldine Carthy said that ‘the court is very familiar with this gentleman in respect of his addiction to alcohol’ and added that she has to take into account the effect of his 'recividous offending’ and sentenced him to six months.