Jailed by Carlow District Court for five months on public order offences
Symbol of justice
A CARLOW man who was in a “very poor state” when he entered custody was sentenced to five months in prison at a recent Carlow District Court sitting.
Stephen Murphy, 19 Mount Leinster Park, Tullow Road, Carlow pleaded guilty to three public order offences and one charge of theft.
Sergeant McPartlin said that on 24 September 2025 at noon, a male entered Aldi, Graiguecullen, concealed a bottle of Jameson whiskey and left the store without paying. The item, valued at €32.50, was not recovered. CCTV downloaded by gardaí identified Mr Murphy as the perpetrator.
Further charges arose from an incident on 7 January 2026 when two men were observed fighting on Staplestown Road in Carlow. Mr Murphy (42) ran from the scene and was found drinking a can of cider nearby. Gardaí found Mr Murphy wearing clothes covered in blood, his manner was aggressive and he was shouting obscenities. They arrested him and conveyed him to Carlow Garda Station.
On Wednesday 29 April at 11.31pm, Garda Hasset received a report of a disturbance and found Mr Murphy highly intoxicated and asleep on a footpath.
Sgt McPartlin said the defendant has ten previous convictions.
Solicitor Joe Farrell apologised to the court on his client’s behalf and said the offending behaviour was linked to intoxicants.
“He was in a very poor state when he went into custody,” said Mr Farrell. “He presents as a different person today. Unfortunately, the intoxicants are the problem.” Judge Carthy sentenced Mr Murphy to five months in prison, backdated to 12 June when he entered custody.
Mr Murphy was further served with a book of evidence for charges of theft, assault and robbery at Sports Direct, Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow and at New Oak Estate, which will go forward to Carlow Circuit Court. Summary matters of assault and trespass will be added to the indictment in the coming months.
Judge Carthy put him on an alibi warning and remanded him on bail until 18 November for the two summary offences pending directions from the DPP.
