Young man overcame adversity to finish Leaving Cert and get to college, Cork court told
26-year-old Daniel Ciemiega of no fixed address was remanded in custody by Judge Mary Dorgan at Cork District Court for the preparation of a probation report. File picture: Larry Cummins
A young man who overcame childhood adversity to get 505 points in his Leaving Certificate and study science in college faces sentencing for a series of recent crimes including burglary, public order offences and obstructing a drugs search.
26-year-old Daniel Ciemiega of no fixed address was remanded in custody by Judge Mary Dorgan at Cork District Court for the preparation of a probation report. Sergeant Gearóid Davis outlined the background to the series of events, out of which the accused man pleaded guilty to several charges.
At lunchtime on Wednesday, August 23, there was a burglary at Abbey Court House, George’s Quay, Cork. The defendant entered the building at 1.30pm and got a lift to the second floor—the office of the Department of Social Welfare.
“He placed his hands under the perspex on the desk and moved his hands around. He then took off his shoes and climbed over the perspex into the staff area. He placed a high-vis jacket on and had an identity tag for a member of staff in his hand.
“He looked through a desk. He was stopped by a member of staff and he left the building. Two days later he was arrested. He resisted and ran, after kicking out at Garda Emer McCarthy at Mardyke Walk, Cork.
On August 7, the same defendant’s home at Watergrasshill was searched under warrant. As soon as the guards arrived, he picked up a grinder and shook the contents into his hand and threw it out of the window. He pleaded guilty to obstructing a drugs search arising out of that. He had 19 previous convictions for having drugs for his own use, two for obstructing drugs searches and three for drug-dealing.
More recently at around 6pm on September 9, Garda Ross Broekhuizen was flagged down by a member of the public at the war memorial on South Mall where people sitting on the grass were approached by Mr Ciemiega who was highly intoxicated.
Garda Broekhuizen asked the accused his name and he replied: “I’m not telling you anything – f*** off.”
Sergeant Davis said:
"The guard got him on to the ground and called for assistance. He restrained him until assistance arrived and Mr Ciemiega was taken to the Bridewell.”
Joseph Cuddigan, solicitor, said this young man had overcome very challenging childhood circumstances to get 505 points in his Leaving Cert and do three years of a chemical bio-pharmacy degree—he has one more year to do.
Mr Cuddigan said the accused was very anxious to put these matters behind him so that he could return to college. Judge Mary Dorgan said she would put it back to December 11 for a probation report. The accused will remain in custody until then.
