Judge tells accused: 'If you were sober, you could have an excellent life'

Court told that 26-year-old had overcome adversity to get into college but his life had broken down due to addiction

Judge Mary Dorgan told the accused: 'I hope you get to be clean and move away from your present life. I have every hope that you will do so.'

A young man who overcame childhood adversity to get 505 points in his Leaving Cert and study science but then became involved in a litany of recent crimes was told by the judge: “If you were sober, you could have an excellent life.” 

As she sentenced 26-year-old Daniel Ciemiega, of no fixed address, to a total of four months, Judge Mary Dorgan said: “You have intelligence. What has happened is your whole life has broken down because of your addiction issues.