An Armagh man with 146 convictions who is accused of attempting to steal a purse from the reception of an Armagh hotel has been granted bail.
Conor Patrick Steven Mallon, (39), was not present at his bail application hearing before Armagh Magistrates’ Court, which sat at Newry Courthouse on Tuesday.
Mallon is charged with attempted burglary of a non-dwelling.
The offence allegedly occurred on September 7, at the Charlemont Arms Hotel in Armagh, where he is alleged to have attempted to lift a purse from behind the reception counter, identified by CCTV and subsequently arrested.
Setting out their objections to bail, a PSNI representative said that not only was there no approved address for the defendant as of yet, but also this offence allegedly occurred whilst he was on bail.
They explained that the last time the defendant had applied for bail without an address, police and the defence team had to expend “considerable effort” to get an address.
“Once we got him one, then he reoffended,” the PSNI witness said. “He has a long criminal record of 146 offences, including four for burglary.”
The witness said that drugs and alcohol were a “significant factor” in his life which could lead to reoffending.
District Judge Anne Marshall said that given that this was the only matter for which the defendant was in custody, and due to the nature of the charge, she was prepared to grant him bail.
Mallon was released on his own bail of £250 with a number of conditions. He was to reside at an address approved by police; abstain from alcohol in a public place, have no contact with witnesses and stay out of an agreed area of Armagh.
District Judge Marshall adjourned the case until December 13.
