A man who was shot on a Dublin street recently has had the suspension of a balance of his sentence for car theft offences confirmed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mr Alan Byrne (26), Rosary Road, Maryland, the Coombe, is to give evidence in a manslaughter trial, Judge Kevin Haugh was told. His counsel, Ms Marie Torrens, told Judge Haugh he wasn't in court on the traffic offences because he had been shot. Ms Torrens said Mr Byrne had been on bail for a year since a three-year sentence had been suspended. The court had ordered him to appear again at this time to review the case.
He had been willing to exercise his civic duty to give evidence in the forthcoming trial, which was why he had been shot. It was a tribute to his strength of character that he had overcome his drug addiction, she said.
Judge Haugh noted that Mr Byrne had been sentenced for unauthorised taking of a car, causing criminal damage and dangerous driving. He said he was impressed at Mr Byrne's efforts to wean himself off drugs and reports had shown excellent progress and proof he had kicked his habit. Judge Haugh said there was no point in the court keeping him under any further supervision and he would simply confirm the original order suspending the sentence.