A 27-year-old man whose son was killed in a petrol bomb attack in Co Offaly last month has apologised for the "significant mistakes" he has made over the years, telling a judge he now understands the impact they are having on him and his family.
At a sentencing hearing at Tullamore Circuit court, Aaron Holt, of Castleview Park, Edenderry, provided a two-page handwritten letter to Judge Keenan Johnson, in which he referred to the recent deaths of his son and his aunt, as being "the most painful period" of his life.
His four-year-old son Tadgh Farrell and aunt Mary Holt, 60, were killed in a petrol bomb attack at a house in Castleview Park in Edenderry, on 6 December. Holt's mother, who was injured in the attack, remains in hospital.
He has pleaded guilty to possession of over €32,000 worth of heroin for sale or supply near his home in Edenderry in May 2024.
Defence barrister Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC told the court that Holt had not been able to attend his son's funeral and what had happened in December had hit him like a train coming down the tracks.
Mr Ó Dúnlaing said it had caused Holt to seriously reflect on his own life and he now understands the impact that the significant mistakes he made over years are having on him and his family.
Garda Trevor Mullins of Edenderry Garda Station outlined to the court the CCTV showed Holt's co-accused Shane O'Neill retrieve a black bag from a laneway near Castleview Park on 8 May 2024.
O'Neill, with an address at Killane Court, Edenderry, has also pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply.
Prosecuting Shane Geraghty BL told the court that O'Neill was observed visiting Holt's house after retrieving the black bag from the laneway.
CCTV footage showed O'Neill leaving the house and placing the bag back in the laneway.
Garda Mullins told the court that the bag was later seized by gardai, and it contained over €32,000 worth of heroin.
Footage showed both men looking for the bag the following day and a message found on Holt's phone read: "there will be war boys".
Garda Mullins said the following day searches took place at both men's houses in Edenderry, during which drugs paraphernalia, a drugs tick list and phones were seized.
The court heard both men had been messaging each other on the TikTok social media app.
In one message Holt messaged O'Neill saying: "Please bring gear to me, I'll give you 5p".
Tullamore Circuit Court heard that Holt has 59 previous convictions and has not been in employment since he was 18.
The court also heard O'Neill, who is in employment, has no previous convictions.
Judge Johnson said the information heard today was too serious and needed to be considered.
He said it was an example of the scourge of illicit drugs in society and the enormous knock-on effects, both criminally and socially.
He adjourned sentencing of both men until 27 January.
