A handcuffed Cassells arrivs at letterkenny District Court today. Pic by Northwest Newspix.
A man who allegedly broke into two businesses in Letterkenny has been released on bail after a court heard he has been on drugs since he was 8 years old.
Daryll Cassells appeared before Letterkenny District Court today charged with burglaries at both a hairdressing salon and a beauticians.
Cassells, 20, who is originally from Dublin, told the court he has been living in Donegal for the past two months having fled the capital to escape his heroin addiction.
Since coming to live in Donegal, he said he has reduced his drug dependancy considerably from €200 per week to just €25.
Cassells, originally from 7 Mayfield Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin, said he had dabbled with drugs since he was 8 years old as drugs were all around him and that he now wants to break free from that life.
He also revealed he had ben in and out of care since he was 11 years old and would hide in the attack of his father's home when social workers would come looking for him.
"I had too many friends in Dublin that are involve in crime and I've absconded from them. I was strung out on heroin in Dublin but I am decreasing on my drugs. I did cold turkey. I started smoking a bit of weed but I am coming down. I have no intention of going back to Dublin because I am in anger of going back to my old lifestyle if I do," he said.
The court heard how Cassells was terrified of going back to prison after being attacked and stabbed on three occasions including once to the face.
Gardai had objected to bail for the two burglaries at LK Hair and Design and Grainne's Beauty Salon at Larkin's Lane, Letterkenny on July 25th last.
Arresting officer Garda Eoin Waters said although Cassells was a pleasant young man, he feared he would reoffend if given bail.
Judge Conal Gibbons said he was prepared to take a chance on Cassells and to grant him bail.
But he told the accused that he must prove to him that he was seeking professional help for his addictions when he came before him again in a week's time on August 13th.
He ordered a number of bail conditions including that Cassells sign on at Letterkenny Garda station once a day and that he reside at 11 Orchard Court, Letterkenny.
He also paid tribute to the very fair way in which Garda Waters presented the case saying he acted professionally in all his dealings with the accused.