Six months in prison for stealing a passenger’s bag in Templemore
Thurles District Court heard the defendant also stole the man's laptop
A Templemore man has been given a six-month prison sentence for stealing a bag from a train passenger. John Donoghue (28) of 18 Parkview, Templemore, pleaded guilty to theft at the Templemore Train Station on October 23, 2020.
Sgt Tom Hanrahan told the court that the injured party was travelling on a train from Dublin when at a stop in Templemore, his bag and laptop were stolen.
Gardaí obtained the CCTV from the station and was able to trace the laptop to an address in Railway View Templemore.
The defendant admitted taking the bag and gave the laptop to the gardaí. However, the injured party’s other belongings could not be recovered. The total value of the stolen items was €2,000.
The court heard Mr Donoghue has 43 previous convictions, including for theft, robbery and burglary.
Acting for the defendant, Mr Paddy Cadell said his client had admitted to taking the items and had returned the laptop.
He said at the time, the defendant had a drug problem, but had been clean for 15 months.
His client is currently serving a sentence but intends to take up employment with his uncle on his release.
Judge Elizabeth MacGrath said she notes the facts but the “difficulty” is his history.
She said given the number of previous convictions, a custodial sentence would have to be imposed.
The judge sentenced him to six months in prison, commencing the day of the hearing.