'I don't want to be spending no more time in jail' says Offaly man

Judge praises homeless 30-year-old for overcoming heroin and Tullamore District Court hears he's now trying to give up alcohol

Published 15th Sep 2026, 12:00 BST Updated 15th Sep 2026, 20:11 BST Sentence imposed at Tullamore District Court | Tribune Pictures Judge praises homeless 30-year-old for overcoming heroin and Tullamore District Court hears he's now trying to give up alcohol A HOMELESS Tullamore man was praised by Judge Andrew Cody for managing to overcome his heroin addiction.

However the local District Court heard that Stephen Bracken (30), of no fixed abode, is now addicted to alcohol and he admitted over 20 charges of theft from retail premises, many of them involving stealing drink.

Sign up to our Offaly Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Offaly Live within your account.

The court was told Mr Bracken, who has been in custody since July 23, has over 100 previous convictions and according to his solicitor “is stuck between a rock and a hard place” because while he's in prison he cannot seek accommodation to stay in when he is released.

Mr Bracken stole alcohol on 12 different occasions between November 22 last year and July 22 this year from stores in Tullamore and Clara.

Tullamore D.E.W. visit helped put Irish whiskey tariffs on Trump’s agenda He has been appearing before the court by video link since going into custody but last Wednesday was brought to court in person.

Defending solicitor Aisling Maloney said Mr Bracken was trying to manage his withdrawal from alcohol and he feared that he could get fatal seizures if he stopped too quickly.

He now had a desire to address his alcohol addiction but there was a waiting list for treatment in the Midlands.

Mr Bracken asked the judge to sentence him and release him. “I'll take this chance if you give it,” he said.

The man said he planned to get accommodation with a voucher from the County Council on release, go to a clinic and get a key worker.

“I don't want to be spending no more time in jail. I'm sick of it,” he said, adding that while he was on good terms with his parents he could not stay with them.

Judge Cody said he was considering putting the matter back for a week because he needed more evidence of “more permanent” accommodation.

Mr Bracken said if he was released he could sleep in the hospital emergency department overnight and then go to the council homeless section the following morning.

Judge Cody let the matter stand for a period and when it came before the court again he was told by Ms Maloney that her client remained of the view that he wished to be released.

The solicitor repeated that it seemed to her the man was motivated to deal with his alcohol addiction.

Bog-based roads in Offaly shrinking due to dry weather Mr Bracken told the judge he was off heroin and no longer smoked crack.

“That's a colossal achievement that you're entitled to be proud of,” said Judge Cody. “You're actually a decent fellow behind it all, and I know that.”

He added: “If I let you out you'll be back on the train you'll be back in some off-licence somewhere and you'll be back to me again next week.”

When he was released in July he was quickly back before the court and looked “battered and blue”. “The same thing is going to happen again unless you have somewhere stable to stay.”

Mr Bracken said on that occasion he was on thinking of his next drink and had been robbed because he was on the streets.

The court was told the Probation Service was attempting to assist Mr Bracken but the accused himself said his travel pass and his phone “kept getting robbed”.

Judge Cody said one of the benefits of prison was he didn't have access to alcohol, apart from “maybe a bit of hooch”.

Mr Bracken said while in prison nothing would be done about getting accommodation. “Better chance getting this done [by me] walking from this court,” he remarked.

Judge Cody said the man's offending was mainly “nuisance” for the stores and in terms of sentencing, he had to consider Mr Bracken's rehabilitation.

He sentenced him to three months in prison, back dated to July 23, on three of the charges and remanded him to appear in court again on November 18 on other charges.

“You'll get every bounce of the ball I can give you on the 18th of November if you remain sober,” Judge Cody told Mr Bracken.