Judge sentences Declan Haughney to six months over separate theft incidents
By Charlie Keegan, 23 February 2022
A 40-year-old who is accused of bringing a dead man into a post office in Carlow town in an attempt to collect his pension has been further remanded in custody with consent to bail.
Declan Haughney, of Pollerton Road, Carlow, who appeared via video link, faces two charges contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act.
They are that at 11.04am at Hosey’s Post Office on Staplestown Road, Carlow he induced by deception a member of staff, by producing a social welfare card in an attempt to withdraw the €246 pension of Peader Doyle.
The court was informed that the file is with the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the post office incident. Sgt Hud Kelly sought a four-week adjournment on those matters, which Haughney consented to.
Separately, Haughney was sentenced by Judge Geraldine Carty to six months imprisonment over an unrelated theft charge. He took goods valued at €175 from Sports Direct in Carlow’s Fair Green centre on January 15th last.
He was also convicted of three other theft charges relating to incidents in Carlow town on dates last month. These offences were taken into consideration by the judge, who ordered that the six month sentence commence from January 27th, the date he was first remanded in custody.
Sgt Hud Kelly told the court that Haughney has 48 previous convictions, 13 of which relate to theft.
Brendan Flaherty, solictor for Haughney, told the court his client wished to have the theft charges dealt with. The solicitor said the council house where his client had lived is now boarded up and he is homeless. “He has had his addiction problems over the years and is on methadone,” he said.
