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Repeat offender referred to probation services over criminal damage
Summary
A repeat offender, Michael O'Connell (44), of Patrician Villas, Stillorgan, has been referred to probation services and ordered to complete community service reports following his guilty pleas to criminal damage, intoxication in a public place, and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour. O'Connell pleaded guilty to these charges on 18 September, 2024, and also admitted to causing criminal damage at Dundrum Garda Station on the same date. Gardaí responded to a call at Patrician Villas on that morning, where they found O'Connell throwing a stone at the front door of his former partner's home. He was highly intoxicated and verbally abusive towards the gardaí. O'Connell has 84 previous convictions, including public order, drug, firearms, and road traffic offences. He was previously given a suspended sentence for criminal damage in 2020. His defence highlighted his history of mental health issues, including paranoid schizophrenia, and his reliance on alcohol and drugs. O'Connell is currently on methadone and has been sober for a period of time. The court noted that he has never worked with probation services despite his long history of offending.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Repeat offender referred to probation services over criminal damage. Charges or matters: criminal damage, intoxication in a public place and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on 18 September, 2024; a separate count of criminal damage at Dundrum Garda Station on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- 18 September Incident
- September 18 Incident
- 20 April Adjournment
- 2025-12-05 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: criminal damage, intoxication in a public place and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on 18 September, 2024; a separate count of criminal damage at Dundrum Garda Station on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He received a suspended sentence for criminal damage in 2020. Judge Áine Shannon said the court was of the view that O'Connell may benefit from probation supervision and a community service assessment "to give him a chance to mend his ways".; She remanded O'Connell on continuing bail to 20 April, 2026 for finalisation.
Places mentioned
- criminal damage at Dundrum Garda Station
- Dundrum
- Dún Laoghaire District Court
Topics
Drugs Public Order Road Traffic Stage Sentence
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