Nenagh court orders report on man who had stolen generator because caravan had no power

A man charged with handling stolen property has had his case adjourned to May by Judge Elizabeth MacGrath at Nenagh District Court for a pre-sentencing probation report.

Joe Hutchinson, 19, of 6 Rathfield Drive, Tallaght, county Dublin, pleaded to the offence at Ballyvillane Halting Site, Nenagh, on March 16, 2023.

The court heard that property worth €5,172, including a petrol generator, had been taken from a site at Dromineer, Nenagh, on March 15, 2023 and garda inquiries had led them to Ballyvillane, where the generator was recovered.

Mr Hutchinson’s solicitor, Johnny Spencer, told the court that his client had moved from Dublin, where he grew up in Tallaght, to Ballyvillane but the property there had no electricity or water.

Mr Hutchinson had put out the word out that he was looking for a generator and paid €300 for one.

“He knows he should have been more careful,” said Mr Spencer. “He has learned his lesson from it.”

The solicitor said that Mr Hutchinson, who is married, had not been in trouble since and was now living in Banagher, county Offaly.

Mr Spencer pointed out that the property had been recovered within 24 hours and had not been damaged.

Judge MacGrath remarked that people buying items for less than their market valued exacerbated the issue of theft.

She asked if there was any evidence that Mr Hutchinson had needed energy for the caravan at Ballyvillane.

Judge MacGrath ordered the pre-sentencing report for May 10.