Man with Carlow address started taking heroin at 8-years-old, court hears

A man who started taking drugs when he was eight years old was given an additional ten months in prison last week for a burglary in Newbridge.

“You gotta get a grip on your life,” said the judge.

“Or the drugs will kill me,” acknowledged the prisoner.

Patrick Stokes (43), presently with an address c/o Peter McVerry Trust, Eyre Street, Newbridge, but previously with addresses in Castledermot and Carlow, was appearing at Naas District Court from custody, where he is presently serving a six-month sentence for theft, handed down only a week ago.

Garda Martin Staunton gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution that morning at Naas Garda Station after Stokes was brought from the Midlands Prison, where he is serving his present sentence.

“After I cautioned him, judge, he said: ‘I’m very sorry. It won’t happen again’,” said Garda Staunton.

He then listed the offences, which consisted of three attempted burglaries in July and September last year at the Dove Café, Eyre Street, Daybreak shop in Great Connell, and Judge Roy Beans on the Main Street.

At the Dove Café he entered a side door meant for the apartments above and stole a bank card from a handbag on the bannisters, which “he tapped for €28 worth of cigarettes and one other item”.

At Daybreak he entered an area where no staff were and took €120 worth of spirits, but was unsuccessful at Judge Roy Beans, for which he was formally charged with trespass.

“How did you come to arrest Patrick Stokes?” asked Judge Desmond Zaidan.

“By CCTV,” said Garda Staunton.

“And he made confessions?” surmised the judge, to which Garda Staunton said “yes”.

After his guilt plea, it was revealed that Stokes had 126 previous convictions, for some of which he was presently serving his six-month sentence.

Drugs Scourge

Barrister Aisling Murphy informed the court that her client had a predicted release date of 4 August, adding: “it’s very unfortunate these charges come so close to his release date”.

“He has a previous addiction to heroin, but is now on methadone and also suffers from epilepsy, and he’s usually accompanied to court by his mother,” said Ms Murphy.

“I want to speak directly to Patrick,” said the judge.

“Are you going to beat this behaviour?” he asked.

“I was in contact with a social worker in Naas,” he admitted.

“He was trying to get into treatment,” clarified Ms Murphy.

“I’m still working on that,” said Mr Stokes.

“Patrick, how old were you when you started taking heroin?” asked the judge.

“I think I was about eight,” said Mr Stokes to a stunned court.

Shaking his head, the judge said: “Drugs are a scourge on the nation.”

“I’m going to convict, and for the Dove Café, ten months in prison with the others taken into consideration,” said the judge.

Ms Murphy then appealed to the prosecution that “if the state has any more charges (on Stokes) to bring the outstanding charges together, because they’re coming on piecemeal form”.

“I don’t think there are any other charges,” said Garda Staunton.

“You gotta get a grip on your life,” said the judge.

“Or the drugs will kill me,” finished Stokes.