A man with 115 previous convictions who damaged a vehicle in a Dublin car park has had his eight-month jail term replaced with a fully suspended sentence on appeal.
The District Court Appeals Court heard that former addict Eoin Jarvis (34) has made “considerable progress” since the offence.
Jarvis, with last address at Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, was convicted in the District Court of damaging property at Park Rite, Parnell Street, Dublin 1 contrary to section 2(1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991.
He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment and later lodged an appeal against the severity of that term.
Garda Craig White told the court today that on July 10, 2024, Jarvis entered a car park and damaged a Nissan Qashqai SUV. He told the court that Jarvis has 115 previous convictions.
Defence counsel for Jarvis, Paul Larkin Coyle BL, said that his client extended a genuine apology for the incident and that he has not come to garda attention in recent months.
He told the judge that Jarvis is now sober and clean, despite previously being on a path of addiction.
Mr Larkin Coyle said that the incident was caused by desperation but that his client has now started to turn his life around.
He said that Jarvis has completed treatment with Merchants Quay Ireland and is still in their care. He said that he has a construction course lined up in the new year.
Judge Jonathan Dunphy said that in circumstances where Jarvis had made “considerable progress”, he saw no benefit in breaking this.
He decided to vary the order of the District Court to fully suspend the eight month sentence for the period of two years.
The judge made the condition that Jarvis must keep the peace and participate in aftercare and addiction counselling. He said he must continue to attend Merchants Quay Ireland services as well as the St James Camino Network.