A Letterkenny teenager has been remanded in custody after being charged with the unauthorised taking of a vehicle from Letterkenny Community Centre.
Sam Orr was refused bail when he was hauled before Judge Alan Mitchell at Letterkenny District Court on Friday afternoon.
Orr, a 19-year-old who has been residing at Glenard Park, Letterkenny, was charged in relation to an incident on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
He was charged with a burglary at Letterkenny Community Centre, contrary to section 12 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001 and with the unauthorised taking of a car, a silver Seat Leon, from Letterkenny Community Centre car park, a charge contrary to section 112 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961.
Orr was alleged to have entered the changing rooms while local football teams were training outside and took a car key. In the car park, Orr took possession of the silver Seat Leon and left in the direction of Letterkenny Retail Park.
Detective Garda Cathal Feely gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Orr.
Orr was charged at 1.41pm on Friday, January 17. He made no reply, the court heard, but Orr had made admissions while interviewed by detectives.
Detective Garda Feely said that An Garda Síochána were objecting to bail.
The court heard that the car was found abandoned and with the number plates removed at Corravaddy. The vehicle is now subject to a technical examination.
An iPhone 15, which was in the car, was discarded on a road near the dual carriageway and recovered, while a wallet was also located close to the Clanree Hotel, having also been removed from the vehicle.
Mr Frank Murphy, solicitor for Orr, said his client is a young man who “tries his competent best” but has “fallen foul of a chronic drug habit”. Mr Murphy said Orr is “crying out for assistance”.
Orr took to the witness box and said he has been “spending time with my missus” and “keeping the head down” since being released from custody in October.
“I even thought I was doing so well myself,” Orr, whose girlfriend is due to give birth next month, said.
He told Judge Mitchell that he is addicted to cocaine and takes the drug “a lot”.
Judge Mitchell said the “big difficulty” is that Orr didn’t do anything since October to address his addiction. Noting the seriousness of the offences, Judge Mitchell said he was satisfied that refusing bail was considered necessary.
Orr was remanded to appear again at Letterkenny District Court via video link.