Northern Ireland

Thief avoids jail after suffering brain damage from sniffing glue

Belfast Magistrates' Court heard 31-year-old Michael McNally suffered brain damage from sniffing glue in his youth
Belfast Magistrates' Court heard 31-year-old Michael McNally suffered brain damage from sniffing glue in his youth Belfast Magistrates' Court heard 31-year-old Michael McNally suffered brain damage from sniffing glue in his youth

A serial thief with more than 300 previous convictions has avoided a return to prison for stealing hair dye.

Imposing a three-month jail sentence on Michael McNally for his latest shoplifting in Belfast city centre, a judge branded his record "as bad as it gets".

But the term was suspended after it was revealed that 31-year-old McNally suffered brain damage from sniffing glue in his youth.

He appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with stealing hair dye valued at £10.99 from Holland & Barrett's Ann Street store back in January.

McNally, with an address at Victoria Street in the city, entered an immediate guilty plea.

He has now amassed 307 convictions - including 158 for theft.

Defence solicitor Pearse MacDermott acknowledged: "He has an appalling record."

In mitigation, Mr MacDermott disclosed that his client now suffers from a personality disorder.

"He has damaged nerve endings to his brain from taking glue as a young man," he said.

The lawyer also argued that McNally's latest thieving occurred before he was last handed a suspended sentence.

"He has managed to stay out of trouble for two months, which is quite remarkable for this young man," Mr MacDermott added.

On that basis District Judge Alan White decided to suspend the newly imposed prison term for 12 months.