Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 18132Criminal damage; theft · Co. Laois · 29 Sep 2023

Man accused of damaging flowerbeds and stealing items in Portlaoise

Glenn O'Neill, a 24-year-old man, is accused of causing €500 damage, including clean-up costs, to flowerbeds at Lyster Square, Portlaoise, on 29 September 2023 at about 1.30am. Gardaí obtained CCTV which Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said shows the defendant causing the damage, and gardaí said he was arrested and made admissions. He is also accused of stealing a teaspoon and tea cup from Dunnes Stores, Kyle Centre, Portlaoise, on 21 September 2023, and of criminal damage at Abbeyleix Garda Station on 16 April 2022. He first appeared before Portlaoise District Court, reported in February 2024, where Judge Nicola Andrews adjourned the case to 4 March 2024 for a probation report.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court23 Feb
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Glenn O'Neill, 24, is accused of causing €500 damage to flowerbeds in Portlaoise, including clean-up costs.
  • He is accused of stealing a teaspoon and tea cup from Dunnes Stores, Kyle Centre, Portlaoise.
  • He is accused of throwing a large piece of rubble through the front office window of Abbeyleix Garda Station.
  • He is accused of stealing a four grain fork from a shed at the back of Abbeyleix Garda Station.
Where
The flowerbeds were damaged in Lyster Square, Portlaoise.
When
  • The flowerbed damage is alleged to have occurred on 29 September 2023 at about 1.30am.
  • The Dunnes Stores theft is alleged to have occurred on 21 September 2023.
Investigation
  • Gardaí investigated reports of damaged flowerbeds and obtained CCTV, which Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said shows the defendant causing the damage.
  • Gardaí said the defendant was arrested and made admissions.
Charges
He is accused of criminal damage at Abbeyleix Garda Station on 16 April 2022.
In court
  • He first appeared before Portlaoise District Court, reported in February 2024.
  • Defence solicitor Suzanne Dooner BL asked for the matters to be adjourned, and Judge Nicola Andrews adjourned the case to 4 March 2024 for a probation report.
23 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGlenn O’Neill is accused of causing €500 damage to flowerbeds in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe man threw a large piece of rubble through the front office window at Abbeyleix Garda Station. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe man went to a shed at the back of Abbeyleix Garda Station and stole a four grain fork. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe defendant is also accused of stealing a teaspoon and tea cup from Dunnes Stores, Kyle Centre, Portlaoise (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe damage to the flowerbeds amounted to €500 including clean up costs (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe defendant was observed causing criminal damage at Abbeyleix Garda Station on 16 April 2022 (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe man stole a four grain fork from a shed at the back of Abbeyleix Garda Station (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe flowerbeds damaged were at Lyster Square, Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe damage to the flowerbeds occurred on 29 September 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe flowerbed damage occurred on 29 September 2023 (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe theft from Dunnes Stores occurred on 21 September 2023 (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe flowerbeds were damaged at 1.30am (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí investigated reports of damaged flowerbeds at about 1.30am and obtained CCTV. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationCCTV shows the defendant damaging the flowerbeds, according to Sgt Kirby. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe defendant was arrested and made admissions. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí obtained CCTV showing the defendant causing the damage to the flowerbeds (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe defendant is also accused of stealing a teaspoon and tea cup from Dunnes Stores, Kyle Centre, Portlaoise on 21 September 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe defendant is accused of criminal damage at Abbeyleix Garda Station on 16 April 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtDefence solicitor Suzanne Dooner BL asked that all matters go back to Portlaoise District Court on 4 March for a probation report. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Nicola Andrews adjourned the case to 4 March for a probation report. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtSuzanne Dooner BL asked that all matters be adjourned to Portlaoise District Court on 4 March for a probation report (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Nicola Andrews adjourned the case to 4 March 2024 for a probation report (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceClean-up costs were included in the €500 damage figure. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Feb2024
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Man in court accused of damaging flowerbeds and stealing a teaspoon and tea cup in the Midlands

    First court appearance; case adjourned to 4 March 2024 for a probation report.

    accused, Glenn O'Neill, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)Glenn O'Neill
  2. 23 Feb2024
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Man in court for damaging flowerbeds in Laois

    First report of the court appearance. The defendant is also accused of a theft from Dunnes Stores, Kyle Centre, Portlaoise on 21 September 2023, and of criminal damage at Abbeyleix Garda Station on 16 April 2022.

    accused, Glenn O'Neill, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)Glenn O'Neill