Limerick man who stole from honesty boxes in Tipperary avoids prison

A Limerick man has been convicted of stealing money from honesty boxes in Terryglass and several other offences at Nenagh District Court. 

Wesley O’Halloran (26) 336 Rose View Drive, Donough O’Malley Park, Limerick, pleaded guilty to theft, dangerous driving, driving with no insurance, and no licence, giving gardaí a false name and criminal damage on dates in May 2023.  

The defendant who appeared before Judge Fiona Brennan received a number of suspended sentences, driving disqualifications, fines and probation bonds. 

HONESTY BOXES

Sergeant Regina McCarthy told the court that on May 3, 2023, gardaí received a report that €5 was stolen from an honesty box at a home in Terryglass. 

The injured party said she had just taken her earnings out and left a float when she saw a car drive up to the box.

The injured party was able to give gardaí a description of the defendant who admitted to taking the money when he was arrested. 

On the same date, gardaí received a second report in the area from another home where €20  was stolen from another honesty box.

The court heard the defendant later apologised and compensated the injured parties. 

“They were grateful to have received that. They were not expecting to receive that and are grateful,” said Sgt McCarthy. 

DANGEROUS DRIVING

Sgt McCarthy told the court that on May 15, 2023, at Ashley Park, gardaí observed a car travelling in the opposite direction toward Ardcroney. 

The guard followed with lights and sirens to indicate to the driver to stop but the defendant instead sped up. 

Sgt McCarthy said the manner of driving through the village of Ardcroney was “reckless to say the least” and gardaí ceased their pursuit for the safety of pedestrians in the area. 

Later that day, gardaí came upon the car again driving down the wrong side of the road in Borrisokane. The court heard traffic on the road had to take “evasive action.”

Gardaí followed the defendant, signalling for him to stop as he turned onto the Ballinderry road.

When the defendant made it to Terryglass, gardaí observed him pull into a driveway. They spoke to the defendant in the house, who gave them a different name.

The gardaí made a demand for the defendant’s licence which he said was in the car but when members of the defendant’s family arrived, the guard had to leave for his own safety. 

The guard later found a fake public services card in the defendant's car with the name Daniel O’Halloran on it. The court heard the defendant had a number of previous convictions which included dangerous driving, careless driving and theft. 

CRIMINAL DAMAGE

Sgt McCarthy told the court that on May 3, 2023, gardaí received a report of a male attempting to break down a door at an address in Coille Bheithe, Nenagh. 

When they arrived at the house, the glass in the door was broken and the defendant had left. He was later identified from CCTV. 

Acting for the defendant, solicitor John Spencer told the court that his client had caused €150 worth of damage and had paid that in compensation. 

Judge Fiona Brennan asked why the defendant had attempted to break the door. Mr Spencer said his client thought it was his cousin's house with whom he was having a dispute.

MITIGATION

Mr Spencer told the court that his client has two children one of which is on the autism spectrum. He asked the judge to consider the impact on the child of imposing a custodial sentence. Mr Spencer said his client has mental health issues and was at the time on a lot of medication.  At the time of the offences, he had just lost his father and this year lost his mother.

However, Mr Spencer said he has not come to gardaí attention in the last 17 months and was of moderate risk for reoffending and is employed on a farm.

“He is in a much better place to deal with issues as they come up with support in place,” said Mr Spencer. 

APPALLING

Judge Brennan described the offences as "absolutely appalling" and said she did not accept the death of a relative as a reason for the offences. The judge noted that the defendant had paid compensation but said:

“It is a very unfortunate offence to commit as they were honesty boxes he chose to steal from.”

The judge ordered the defendant under a probation bond for two years for the first theft and imposed a four-month prison sentence suspended for two years on the second. 

For the charge of no insurance. Judge Brennan imposed a five-month prison sentence suspended for two years and an eight-year driving disqualification. 

For the charge of dangerous driving, the judge fined the defendant €100 and disqualified him from driving for three years.

And for the charge of driving with no licence, the judge fined Mr O’Halloran €100 and disqualified him further from driving for two years. 

The judge said she was imposing repeated disqualifications so that it was reflected in his record should he come to garda attention in the future.

For the offence of giving gardaí a false name, the judge ordered the defendant under a second probation bond for two years. 

The judge said to the defendant:

“You should be under no illusions if you come back this court will find it very difficult not to send you to prison.”