Graiguecullen man carried bottles of bleach to protect his sister, court told
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A GRAIGUECULLEN man, who said he carried two bottles of bleach to protect his sister and her child from a threat, was sentenced to seven months’ in custody, to run consecutive to a sentence he is currently serving.
John Craddock (26) of Morrins Lane, Graiguecullen, Carlow had earlier pleaded guilty to possession of an article in a public place (contrary to the ) after gardaí found two bottles containing a bleach-like substance during a search on Tullow Road, Carlow in February 2024.
Sentencing the defendant at Carlow District Court, Judge Geraldine Carthy noted that he is currently on remand.
“Correct,” said his solicitor Joe Farrell, who told the court that Mr Craddock was due before the circuit court but was currently serving a sentence.
Mr Farrell said he had spoken to his client at length and described the offence as motivated by “misguided loyalty” to protect his sister, adding that Mr Craddock had entered a guilty plea. He noted that the bleach had not been used but was found on his client’s person.
In further mitigation, Mr Farrell said Mr Craddock had become a father since the incident. Turning to the probation report before the court, he said his client had been given opportunities by the court in the past and that he had gone into custody relatively early in his history of offending, rather than accumulating a lengthy string of convictions beforehand. He also told the court that his client had completed a food safety course and hoped to secure a place in St Pat’s.
The court heard that Mr Craddock has 12 previous convictions.
Judge Carthy said she had read the probation report, which indicated that Mr Craddock was in the ‘high risk’ category for reoffending within the next 12 months, with a ‘high risk of impulsive behaviour’ and issues relating to substance abuse. She also noted his diagnoses of Asperger’s and ADHD, for which, she said, he had “historically not accepted treatment”.
While acknowledging the defendant’s guilty plea, his stated motivation of protecting his sister and his co-operation with gardaí, Judge Carthy said the DPP viewed the matter as “the height of seriousness that can be dealt with in this court”.
“I am of the view that Mr Craddock was trying to protect his sister,” she said. “I convict and sentence him to seven months in custody, consecutive to his current sentence.” He was granted a €500 own bond.
