Heroin addict gets 8 months

A heroin addict was found lying across a pew in a Cork church last Christmas Eve with the paraphernalia of drug use scattered around him and yesterday the 28-year-old was jailed for eight months for that and a series of shoplifting offences.

Garda Stephen Aherne responded to a call to Blackpool church on December 24 2014.

Inspector Eileen Foster said yesterday that Shane Murphy was lying across a pew in the church in Blackpool at the time.

Murphy, who is originally from 213 Comeragh Park, The Glen, Cork, pleaded guilty to having the heroin in his possession for his own use.

He also confessed to multiple counts of shoplifting. Inspector Foster gave details of those crimes yesterday.

At least 10 bottles of vodka were stolen by Murphy from Tesco on Paul Street.

On September 9 he went to that supermarket and took a bottle of Smirnoff vodka without paying for it. He returned later that same day and stole three more bottles.

Insp Foster said the accused had 134 previous convictions including 20 for theft.

Emmet Boyle, solicitor, said yesterday the accused was pleading guilty to all charges against him and effectively clearing the decks.

Mr Boyle said: “Heroin is the root cause of his offending behaviour. He has suffered as a result of the death of numerous people in his vicinity, many of them from drug overdoses in his close circle of friends, one in the last seven days.”

Judge Leo Malone imposed the eight-month sentence to cover all offences.