Change of heart on jail time

A TEENAGER who stole a car told a judge he didn’t want to bother dealing with the probation service and would go to jail instead, but after a few days behind bars the young man had a change of heart.

Vincent Morey, 18, of 8 Ashmount, Silversprings, Cork, was back before Cork District Court yesterday for stealing the car and a separate public order incident where the arresting garda had to use incapacitating spray on Morey.

Morey’s solicitor, Michael Quinlan, said that after a few days in prison the defendant did not want to go back there.

Judge Con O’Leary turned to Morey at Cork District Court yesterday and reminded him, “You said you didn’t mind going to prison.”

The defendant replied, “I was wrong, I’ll go back to the probation service.”

Judge O’Leary gave Morey a chance to do so. He remanded him on bail to appear at Cork District Court again on January 27 2011. He warned the defendant, “Stealing a car means going to prison unless there is a good reason why not.”

Morey faces sentencing for stealing a car at Pope’s Road, Richmond Hill, Cork , on March 5.

Morey also faces a penalty for being drunk and a source of danger and being threatening and abusive, arising out of an incident on March 17.

Conditions of his bail between now and January 27 require him to be home by 10pm every night until 8am in the morning and not to consume any intoxicant.