Offaly man with 'fondness for drink' walks free from court

Judge at Tullamore Circuit Court says Birr defendant who stole 19 cans of Heineken 'seems perfectly decent man when sober'

Published 14th May 2026, 14:30 BST Appeal at Tullamore Circuit Court | Tribune Pictures Judge at Tullamore Circuit Court says Birr defendant who stole 19 cans of Heineken 'seems perfectly decent man when sober' 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.

A MAN with 69 previous convictions was freed at Tullamore Circuit Court after his partner gave evidence on his behalf.

Martynas Jurkaitis (30), Five Alley Inn, Five Alley, Birr, was appealing against the activation of a prison sentence which had been imposed in the District Court.

Most of Mr Jurkaitis's previous convictions were for road traffic offences but he had 19 for breaches of the Public Order Act, six for criminal damage and two for drugs possession.

Sergeant Donal Casey told Judge Ronan Munro the man also had theft convictions, including stealing 19 cans of Heineken on one occasion.

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Suspended sentences had been imposed on him previously, plus a community service order and one of the suspended sentences was then triggered by a conviction for the possession of €60 worth of cannabis.

Sergeant Casey said he was familiar with Mr Jurkaitis in Birr. “Sober, he's grand, but drunk, you have to be careful with him,” he said.

Defence counsel Stephen Byrne, BL, told the court: “This is a man who unfortunately has suffered with a fondness for drink going back a long number of years.”

Mr Byrne said the man had been in a stable relationship since late last year and his partner was in court. “Under her strict guidance he's no longer drinking.”

He was also a “father figure” to the woman's two children and Mr Byrne said the man had changed following periods in prison.

Mr Jurkaitis's partner, Anastacia Azarevica, told the court he was helping her with her four-year-old disabled son who needed a wheelchair and a special bed.

“When he started to live with me he stopped drinking,” said Ms Azarevica.

Judge Munro said he was not entirely convinced the man could suddenly stop drinking and smoking hash.

“He was a menace in the town, stealing drink, which is not a victimless crime. It's on the rise,” he stated.

The judge said it was probably a “Jekyll and Hyde situation” with the appellant: “He seems like a perfectly decent man when sober.”

He told Mr Jurkaitis he would not imprison him and would instead suspend the sentence for 12 months on condition he keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

“Let's hope this is the turning point,” remarked Judge Munro.