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05 Sept 2025

Nine-month custodial sentence imposed on Kildare man for criminal damage offence

CLANE

A nine-month custodial sentence was imposed ona man for a criminal damage offence.

Aaron Hanafey, with an address listed as 3082 Coolearagh, Coill Dubh, Naas, pleaded guilty to two incidents of public disorder and to causing criminal damage at Clane Garda Station.

The 25-year-old appeared via video-link as he had entered into custody on December 13 last.

DETAILS

It was heard that Mr Hanefey went into the station on November 28 last at around 5.30pm.

He became involved in an argument with gardaí, and became verbally abusive to them while in front of other members of the public.

At one point, Mr Hanafey snatched a bail book from one of the garda, causing the cover to be torn off.

Gardaí added that details related to other people in the bail book were damaged as a result of Mr Hanafey’s actions, and the total amount of damage caused to the book was about €50.

REPEAT INCIDENT

Then, on December 5 last, Mr Hanafey returned to the station, where he was once more verbally abusive to gardaí.

Gardaí also pointed out that Mr Hanafey has no previous convictions.

Judge Desmond Zaidan criticised Mr Hanafey for his offence, calling it 'an affront to justice'.

Referring to the second offence, Judge Zaidan said to Mr Hanafey: "You made a fool of yourself; you knew exactly what you were doing."

He said he was satisfied that the criminal damage offence merited a custodial sentence, and sentenced Mr Hanafey to nine months in prison.

The judge added that he took the two public disorder offences into consideration.

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