Sentencing of postman adjourned

SENTENCING of a postman who dumped more than 10,000 letters entrusted to him for delivery over a six-month period was adjourned for a month yesterday.

Daniel O’Regan, 6 Árd Abhainn, Knockraha, Co Cork, was before Cork District Court for sentencing yesterday on three charges under the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act arising out of his actions.

Judge Con O’Leary adjourned sentencing until October 27 to allow time for the preparation of a background report in the case.

Inspector Senan Ryan said last week the matter came to light on March 18 last when more than 2,000 letters were found dumped in a field in Knockraha.

The letters were removed to the An Post sorting office at LittleIsland and an internalinvestigation was put in place.

Within days an official complaint was made to An Garda Síochána and Daniel O’Regan was questioned in relation to the matter.

The postman attended at Cobh Garda Station where he admitted dumping the mail and told gardaí he had dumped mail previously at Glounthaune.

Almost 8,000 items of mail were recovered there. More than 4,000 of the total of over 10,000 items recovered had been damaged by water or were torn or otherwise destroyed.

Eddie Burke, defence solicitor, described it as a bizarre situation where O’Regan, 31, was not taking the mail in order to steal from it but was under a lot of pressure to look after his children at that time.