Man giving back to the community

A PROBATION welfare report was ordered for a man who has “battled addiction for a long time” but is giving back to the community via his work with a local project.

Paul McCarton (56), with an address of Knockmore Avenue, Tallaght and also of Russell Drive, Fortunestown, appeared before Tallaght District Court, facing a number of charges from dates in 2023 and 2024.

The court heard that on September 18, 2023, gardai responded to a male parked on Main Street, Tallaght, and discovered the accused with two bags containing a hammer, screwdriver, gloves, and a Go Ahead Ireland bag with a number of documents inside.

There was a public order charge stemming from an incident on August 5, 2024 at Circle K, Brownsbarn Drive, Citywest, where the accused was intoxicated in a public place and was aggressive with gardai who asked him to leave.

On February 24, 2024, gardai found a Stanley blade on Mr McCarton, at  Fortunestown Road Tallaght, who could provide “no excuse” for having it on him.

A theft charge from October 22, 2024, at Circle K Blessington Road Tallaght, was read out with the defendant accused of taking goods worth €33 without paying for them.

The court heard McCarton has eight previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Noah Rossiter, said his client has been battling addiction for a long time, and noted that the charges stemmed from a period in 2023-2024 when his client was struggling, but he has since turned things around.

Mr Rossiter said eight convictions were a low number for someone of his client’s age and background with addiction, that his client is a carpenter who is effectively working fulltime with the JADD project in Tallaght for the last couple of years, engaged in carpentry workshops, bicycle repairs for vulnerable kids and essentially “upskilling in a way.”

Judge Aine Shannon ordered a probation welfare report before sentencing on May 29 at Tallaght District Court.

Funded by the Local Courts Reporting Scheme