A father of four who “slithered” out of a midlands courtroom when a judge accused him of “telling a pile of lies” over his weekly income has been remanded in custody after informing another judge his social welfare was half the amount he had revealed to a different court just days earlier.

41-year-old Jozef Milenky was denied bail by Judge Emile Daly at a sitting of Mullingar District Court just three days after the accused walked out of a court sitting in Longford following a public dressing down from Judge Brendan O’Reilly.

Milenky, of Market Square Court, Market Square, Longford, initially failed to appear to answer a bench warrant which had been issued last month concerning two theft and assault charges in the midlands town before subsequently showing up in court that same afternoon alongside his wife.

Defence solicitor Frank Gearty admitted his client had been “hiding in the town” due to an outstanding “compensation issue” the Slovak national had been agonising over.

As Mr Gearty took to his feet, Milenky’s wife shouted: “I want him to go to jail, he’s a very bad guy.”

It was an outburst Mr Gearty conceded he had not seen coming as Judge O’Reilly pressed Milenky as to his financial means.

In speaking with the aid of an interpreter, Milenky implied he had previously secured employment as a painter and decorator but was currently out of work.

When asked what his weekly income was, Milkenky said he believed he was receiving between €400 and €500 a week.

“Is he having me on? Judge O’Reilly snapped in response. “What income is he referring to (and) how much is he getting from the State?”

The heated nature of that questioning intensified moments later when Milenky suggested he had previously been receiving in the region of €500 a week in addition to his painting and decorating duties.

“So he’s getting €1,000 a week?” Judge Reilly intervened as Milenky back-tracked by claiming he was now in receipt of €500 a week.

The responses drew a scathing riposte from Judge O’Reilly as he called into question the credibility of the accused.

“Mr Gearty, I will be here no later than 4pm,” he said.

“Take instructions from this man and explain to him I didn’t come down the river on a bale of hay.

“If he doesn’t start telling the truth there will be consequences because I have a big problem with him not turning up and now coming here telling a pile of lies.”

Despite that order, Milenky walked out of the courtroom and failed to return in the afternoon in a move which prompted a contrite admission from Mr Gearty.

The long-serving local solicitor said there could be no excuses for his client who, he said, had “slithered away” at the first opportunity.

“When the back was turned he was out like a flash,” he said, apologising to the court on Milenky’s behalf.

“It will have a consequence as he was lucky to get bail the last time.”

Judge O’Reilly empathised with Mr Gearty and said he should harbour no blame for the actions and conduct of his client.

“It’s not your fault (and) it’s not your job to hold his hand,” said Judge O’Reilly as he issued a bench warrant for Milenky’s arrest.

Milenky subsequently appeared in Mullingar Court three days later.

Garda Alan Doherty gave evidence of having arrested Milenky before charging him at Longford Garda Station in connection to a trio of shoplifting charges at three different supermarkets in Longford town between September 21 and October 8, 2025.

He said Milenky made no reply to each of the charges after caution or the execution of the bench warrant which had been imposed at Longford District Court some 72 hours earlier.

Garda Doherty told Judge Emile Daly the State would be objecting to bail under O’Callaghan Rules, principally due to Milenky’s “bench warrant history” and recent failures to show up in court.

He said since October 2023, when the accused took up bail for an alleged assault offence, he had since been further charged with 12 further counts of theft and had failed to attend court on four separate occasions this year alone.

In defence, Andrea Callan BL, said Milenky was someone who was continuing to battle an ongoing alcohol dependency.

She said her client’s recent absences from court were more “through neglect” and a distinct lack of focus rather than by way of a conscious attempt to evade justice.

Ms Callan said efforts to concentrate Milenky’s mind was evidenced in his own pledge to tender a €500 cash lodgement in order to secure bail and preserve his own liberty.

“He is a man who suffers from addiction issues and he would be very anxious not to be remanded in custody,” said Ms Callan, adding how her client was carrying “a lot of concern” over that looming possibility.

Sgt Orla Keenan put forward a different argument and alluded to how Milenky’s “significant pattern” of not turning up for court had only heightened the State’s fears the accused would continue in the same vein.

Judge Daly agreed, saying Milenky’s “cavalier” attitude to attending court was something she could not overlook.

“I have serious concerns about this man,” she said. “If he shows up in the morning and leaves in the afternoon, that still means he doesn’t show up.”

“The accused is entitled to the presumption of bail, but he has been afforded that presumption on a number of occasions and most worryingly he has chosen not to abide by those terms.”

Milenky was, as a result, remanded in custody to appear before a sitting of Longford District Court on Tuesday, October 14.

He was also granted legal aid when it was put to the court Milenky was in receipt of a weekly €240 social welfare payment despite three days earlier claiming before Longford District Court his weekly State income stood at €500 a week.