Offenders coming before Tipperary courts face prison because the alternative of community service is unavailable due to the failure of the Minister for Justice to provide adequate staff in the Probation Service, a District judge has warned. Told of staff shortages in the Probation Services at Carrick-on-Suir Court, Judge Michael Pattwell said it was typical of the grandiose promises being made about alternatives to prison and nothing there to back them up.
He was dealing with the case of a 20-year-old man convicted on October 16th of handling stolen property and criminal damage, who was given three months' detention or 100 hours community service. The case was adjourned until yesterday for reports from welfare officers on the suitability of the defendant for community service. In court yesterday, the reports were not available due to a shortage of staff.
Judge Pattwell adjourned the case until December 4th.