Man before Offaly court jailed for filling station drive-offs

Accused admits offences in Portarlington and Kilbeggan plus dangerous driving, hit and run, drug driving and drug possession

Published 1st Oct 2026, 16:00 BST Sentence imposed at Tullamore District Court | Tribune Pictures Accused admits offences in Portarlington and Kilbeggan plus dangerous driving, hit and run, drug driving and drug possession A MAN who is in custody in relation to a number of offences was sentenced to eight months in prison when he appeared before Tullamore District Court.

John McCormack (51), with addresses at Apartment 3, Barrow Mews, Portarlington and 15 Sli na Mona, Portarlington, was sentenced by Judge Andrew Cody to four months for stealing €88.77 worth of diesel on October 21, 2025 at Applegreen, Main Street, Portarlington.

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A four-month consecutive sentence was imposed for stealing €70 worth of petrol from Circle K, Tullamore Road, Kilbeggan on March 23 this year.

'Incinerator' proposed for site near Offaly county town Defending solicitor Patrick Martin said guilty pleas were being entered to all charges before the court.

Along with the theft from Circle K in Kilbeggan on March 23, Mr McCormack was accused of stealing fuel from the same premises on four other occasions – February 14 (€20 worth), March 1 (€80), March 14 (€70), and March 29 (€80).

Two other similar offences were alleged at Fitzpatrick's Texaco, Dublin Road, Monasterevin where he was accused of stealing petrol worth €30 on September 29 last year and petrol worth €50 on October 6 last.

Other charges and summonses before Tullamore District Court related to offences involving driving.

Mr McCormack was accused of dangerous driving and a hit and run at Main Street, Portarlington on May 31, 2025 and intoxicated driving with no insurance or licence at French Church Street, Portarlington on March 29 this year.

He faced charges of unlicensed and uninsured driving, plus dangerous driving, at Cloneyquin, Portarlington on July 6 last. He was also accused of the unlawful possession of cocaine.

The court heard the offence at Main Street, Portarlington related to an incident where a car was rear-ended and the accused left the scene, going through a red light. The car was found abandoned in Sli na Mona, Portarlington.

Small farmer with 'drink on board' in bar at Ploughing pays court €500 The Cloneyquin offence was detected at a checkpoint when a car approached at speed on the wrong side of the road, failed to stop and then went down a bog road.

A bag of cocaine worth €100 for the man's own use was found in the vehicle. It had no insurance, tax or NCT.

The intoxicated driving in Portarlington on March 29 involved the drug cannabis.

Judge Cody was told Mr McCormack had a total of 80 previous convictions, including 36 for theft but Mr Martin said many of those arose from the same offence involving a chequebook.

The solicitor said his client was anxious to remain in custody. “I'll certainly oblige him,” replied Judge Cody.

Mr Martin outlined the difficulties Mr McCormack had in his life, including the loss of his accommodation and the break-up of a relationship. He then resided “in the wrong place with the wrong people”.

The solicitor said the man had problems with addiction but had been in the Cuan Mhuire addiction treatment centre and got on extremely well there.

Offaly psychologists host course on building self confidence He was still attending a drug counsellor and hoped to get help with accommodation on his release from prison.

Mr Martin asked for a probation report and a prison governor's report to be brought before the court on a later date, saying that Mr McCormack, who was single and had no children, wished to be kept under review by the court.

“Things went wrong and spiralled out of control for him,” said Mr Martin. He had gone into custody on July 7 and had not applied for bail.

He added that while Mr McCormack had hoped to repay the petrol stations, he had financial difficulties.

Judge Cody imposed the two four-month sentences and took the other theft charges into consideration.

He remanded the man to come before the court again by video link on October 7 in relation to the other matters, including the road traffic offences, and ordered probation and welfare and governor's reports.