Persistent offender jailed for three months over string of offences
A persistent offender with over 100 previous convictions has been jailed for three months after admitting to a string of theft and public order offences.
Thomas Greene (33), of Sarsfield Street, Sallynoggin, Co Dublin appeared before Judge Conor Fottrell at Dún Laoghaire District Court, where he pleaded guilty to 14 charges including multiple thefts, public intoxication, abusive behaviour in a public place and repeatedly failing to appear in court.
The offences took place between March 2021 and March 2023. One involved Greene stealing €10 worth of petrol from Applegreen in Booterstown. In another, he shoplifted four bags of Kindle products and a €25 scarf.
On January 1, 2022, he was found in an aggressive and intoxicated state on Boyle Street, Monkstown, calling gardaí “scumbags” and refusing to provide his name and address. In March 2023, he was seen pushing a buggy while heavily intoxicated.
Other charges included stealing €140 worth of Bulmers cider, and three counts of failing to appear in court. Greene has been in custody since June 2 on foot of multiple bench warrants.
The court heard Greene has 107 previous convictions, including those for robbery, assault, drug and firearms offences, criminal damage, and 34 public order matters – as well as 23 for failing to appear in court. He received a four-month sentence in November 2024 from the Circuit Court for possessing a knife.
Defence counsel, Sylvia-Maria Crowley BL, said Greene had a deeply troubled background, having grown up entirely in the care system, where she said he was subjected to “serious abuse”.
The court heard Greene began using drugs at 14 and spiralled into long-term addiction to heroin and cocaine, suffering a drug-induced coma and long-term health issues including seizures and fractures.
Ms Crowley said Greene is now clean and has a bed awaiting him in St Michael’s Unit at Beaumont Hospital, where his GP believes he urgently needs treatment due to the risk to his life. She said Greene was doing his best to get on the right track.
Judge Fottrell imposed a three-month custodial sentence, backdated to June 2, saying the offending was serious and persistent.
When Ms Crowley asked the court to accept €400 in cash from Greene’s family in lieu of an independent surety as part of his recognisance, Judge Fottrell refused, insisting on an independent surety and remarking: “This is a revolving situation here.”