When I was a serving member of An Garda Síochána back in the ’80s and ’90s, there were a number of familiar names appearing regularly in the custody records at garda stations across the city.

They were the habitual offenders who caused mayhem on the streets, week in and week out.

They had a predictable routine. They got drunk or took drugs, fought with people, stole from shops, and abused people they came in contact with.

Then they got arrested and were brought before the courts, received short prison sentences, and emerged from incarceration to repeat the process all over again. It was never- ending.

They were a complete nuisance to everyone, including those in social services trying to help them.

It seems not a lot has changed since I retired more than ten years ago. The revolving wheel of misery where people habitually commit various crimes is continuing, often with the same old faces. Here are two short examples:

The Echo reported on how an intruder entered the English language school as a trespasser, went behind the counter, and took €200 in cash. He was identified on CCTV and had 187 previous convictions, including 24 for burglary and 40 counts of theft.

Remember that number, 187 previous convictions.

For the burglary, the judge sentenced him to four months with the last two months suspended on condition that he would attend residential treatment within four weeks of his release from prison.

The two months imposed........

© Evening Echo