Man gets 14 days to appeal after stealing wig from ex

Ex-footballer Paul Carr yesterday made a play for Christmas freedom.

On Wednesday, the 41-year Shannon, Co Clare, man received a three-month jail term for stealing a €400 medical wig off the head of his ex-lover.

In sentencing Carr of Cluain Airne, Shannon, at Ennis District Court, Judge Patrick Durcan described as ‘appalling’ his act of removing the wig from the head of his 38-year-old ex-girlfriend and making off with it during a dispute.

Carr received the jail term in spite of not being present. Gardaí confirmed yesterday that a warrant was issued on Thursday for Carr to be brought to Limerick prison.

It is understood that the process usually takes a few days to complete and Carr can expect to be spending Christmas in jail.

However, Judge Durcan yesterday threw Carr a lifeline from spending Christmas in jail when he gave him 14 days in which to appeal the jail sentence.

In response to an application by Carr’s solicitor, Tara Godfrey to appeal the jail term at Ennis District Court yesterday, Judge Durcan said if he does wish to appeal, Carr must provide his own bond of €500 and an independent surety to be approved by the court of €1,000.

In court on Wednesday, Ms Godfrey admitted that what Carr did “was a particularly nasty offence in a particular context” but that Carr apologises unreservedly and continues to hold his ex-girlfriend in the highest of regard.

Carr and his ex-partner had split up as a couple in 2012 and Ms Godfrey said her client had found it very difficult to come to terms with the break-up.

The woman purchased the wig in October last year as she recovered from a serious illness.

Carr pleaded guilty to the theft of the wig from his girlfriend’s home on January 17.

In evidence, Insp Tom Kennedy said that a dispute arose between Carr and his ex-girlfriend outside her home in Shannon and during which Carr removed the wig from her head.

Insp Kennedy said: “Mr Carr wouldn’t give it back to her and he made off with the wig and it was subsequently recovered by gardaí when they went to Mr Carr to investigate this.

He said: “The woman was ill at the time and was receiving treatment. She had that wig, as she said in her statement, in order to boost her confidence and to allow her to go to work and mingle with the community without any embarrassment.”

He said: “So whilst it might appear at first look trivial, it certainly wasn’t trivial for the victim on the occasion.”

Insp Kennedy said that Carr has convictions for two previous theft offences, two for being drunk in a public place and two for breach of the peace.