A MAN who stopped a fellow prisoner from committing suicide has been jailed for three years for crimes in the Galway area.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court beard that Christopher Madden is already serving a total of two years imposed in March and February for crimes committed in the Carlow and Kilkenny areas. He was on temporary release from a November 1993 sentence imposed by Wicklow Circuit Court for fraud, forgery and other charges when he committed the later crimes.
Madden (21), originally from Whiteabbey, Co Antrim, told Judge Kieran O'Connor in a letter that he went on what he called "a robbery spree" to pay a drug debt.
Judge O'Connor said one of the few good things about Madden was that he had saved another prisoner from committing suicide. He also noted that Madden was considered a model prisoner.
Ms Isobel Kennedy, defending, said her client left home after severe beatings by his father in law and had had no contact with his family for years. He was taking training in prison and wanted to improve his life. She asked he be left "some light at the end of the tunnel".
Madden, of Woodlands, Renmore, pleaded guilty to the theft of £430 from Rex's Newsagents and £1,530 from St Columba's Credit Union, Renmore, on May 23rd and 26th, 1994. He also admitted attempted robbery at a shop in Foster Street on June 7th, 1994, and to taking a car in Rosslare on May 31st, 1994.
Garda Tom Morris said Madden stole a new Peugeot car at Rosslare Harbour, which he used in crime in the Galway area in 1994. He fitted the car with false plates.
He was masked and had a knife in both Renmore robberies. The young woman assistant in Rex's recognised him when he pulled off his mask while running away. Madden was unmasked in the botched Foster Street raid. The young woman assistant attracted the attention of a passing friend, and Madden ran off. He was later arrested walking on the railway track.