Thief who told "blatant lies" fails in appeal over bid to change guilty plea

A man from County Kildare has lost an appeal against his refusal to withdraw a guilty plea to theft and criminal damage charges at Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court. Conor Judge, aged 31, was sentenced to three years imprisonment in December 2016 for stealing equipment from a windfarm construction site near Arigna in north Roscommon in October 2010. The Court of Appeal upheld the Circuit Court judge's rejection of Judge's application to change his plea, with Mr Justice John Edwards stating the accused had given "blatant lies" and was an "unreliable witness". The court found Judge had failed to demonstrate good and substantial grounds for setting aside his guilty plea. Judge had also alleged coercion by his former legal representatives, claims which were rejected. A psychiatric assessment confirmed he was fit to plead. The Court of Appeal additionally upheld the three-year sentence as correct and proportionate.