Young Corkman relapsed on drugs after hearing of friend's overdose, theft case told

Trevor Hegarty asked in court for help in getting treatment, saying: 'I was released from prison and there was nothing set up for me.'

Trevor Hegarty was sentenced at Cork District Court to eight months with none of it suspended. File picture: Larry Cummins

A young man whose close friend died of an overdose reacted to the news by relapsing on drugs himself after a period of being clear of them.

Trevor Hegarty’s solicitor, Joseph Cuddigan, said at Cork District Court on Wednesday: “One would have thought that would have made drugs repellent to him but unfortunately he was so upset he went back on them himself.” The accused committed a series of offences in the past week and he pleaded guilty to all of them.

Trevor Hegarty, originally of Gurranabraher Avenue, Cork, was initially jailed for eight months with the last two months suspended on condition that he would comply with the directions of the probation service in order to assist in his rehabilitation.

However, it was brought to the attention of Judge Mary Dorgan that the accused man was recently required to comply with the directions of the probation service and he did not make himself amenable to probation at all. Furthermore, the judge was told that this occurred on earlier referrals to probation also. 

So, the sentence imposed on Wednesday was altered to reflect this. Trevor Hegarty was sentenced to eight months with none of it suspended. The 28-year-old then indicated that he wanted to appeal the sentence.

Sergeant Dave Delea outlined the background to the latest offences, to which Trevor Hegarty pleaded guilty.

“At lunchtime on May 6 at the Ashley Hotel on Coburg Street, Trevor Hegarty entered the car park area of the Ashley Hotel. He entered the staff area through an unlocked fire exit. He entered the closed bar area of the hotel and opened the till. The male removed €60 in notes. He was disturbed by the hotel receptionist and left through the rear fire exit, which was captured on CCTV.

“At 7.30pm on the same day he entered the Maldron Hotel leisure centre, Club Vitae, and went behind the staff-only counter and tried to open the till. CCTV shows that after failing, he rummages through the coat pockets of one of the staff members and took two wallets containing cards and €60 in cash. He left by the same exit and no property was recovered,” Sgt Delea said.

On the same day a Nissan Qashqai was stolen by Trevor Hegarty on North Main Street — another crime that was captured on CCTV. The following day, May 7, he turned up at JD Sports on St. Patrick’s Street and stole items to the value of €75.

Before the judge was made aware of the defendant failing to turn up at the probation service, the defendant asked if he could speak directly to the court by video link from prison. Judge Dorgan told him to go ahead. 

He said: “I was released from prison and there was nothing set up for me. A close friend of mine — more like my brother — died… I am in and out (of prison) for years. I am sick of it.” He then asked for help in getting treatment.