A homeless man in Dublin has been accused of stealing Garda property and impersonating a member of An Garda Síochána.
Robert O’Shea (58) was in Lucan on Friday in connection with an incident near the local Garda station.
He was charged with violating the Theft and Fraud Act and possessing stolen property, a Garda uniform soft-shell jacket.
Mr O’Shea was also accused of impersonating a Garda at Main Street in Lucan.
He appeared before Dublin District Court today.
Garda Brian Halley told the court Mr O'Shea said, “I just wanted to be a guard,” when charged at Lucan Garda Station.
Defence Council Kevin McCrave pleaded for bail, saying Mr O’Shea had a history with alcohol problems and was about to start a 12-week residential counselling programme.
He said Mr O’Shea was known to live at various addresses in the Lucan area and lately in a park in the middle of the town.
Mr O’Shea was refused bail and told to appear at Cloverhill District Court on July 21 via a video link.
Judge Dermot Dempsey said Mr O’Shea would receive medical attention while in custody.
Reporting by Tom Tuite.
