Former Ireland boxer went on ‘crime spree’ in Portlaoise 

A jail sentence was handed down to a former Irish boxer who ‘committed a crime spree’ in Portlaoise.

David McDonagh, 26, with an address at Ballyfin Road, Portlaoise appeared in court via video link from prison.  

He admitted to stealing €40 cash at Hawthorne Way in Portlaoise and tobacco worth €24, cash worth €20 and a €400 car key fob from Hawthorne Way between  April 16 and 17 last.  He also admitted getting into a vehicle at Craydon Court and stealing items valued at €350 from at Heather Lane on the same dates. 

Between May 6 and May 7 he admitted stealing €1,850 cash at Woodgrove, Ballyfin Road and he also admitted burgling a house at Birchgrove and the unauthorised taking of a car from the address on May 6. 

Detective Garda JP O’Brien said the most serious of the charges were the burglary and unlawful taking of a car. He said the majority of the matters were thefts or attempted thefts from vehicles and he said the defendant was “just flicking door handles” of vehicles. 

“If the door was open he was taking what was inside,” explained Det O’Brien. 

At 3am the defendant entered a house at Birchgrove through an open rear door,” said Det O’Brien. 

“He took the car keys, went outside and took the vehicle,” he explained. He said the defendant drove the vehicle for less than a kilometre before abandoning it. It was recovered undamaged. He said the man has 63 previous convictions. 

Under questioning, Det O’Brien said the defendant had “committed a crime spree” but had been helpful to gardai when caught. 

The defendant told the court he was serving a sentence but due for release on October 25. 

Solicitor Aonghus McCarthy said his client wouldn’t have had the best opportunities in life. He said the man has had difficulty with tablets and cocaine and wouldn’t offend when not using. He said he had been a very good boxer.  

“When he is not on tablets he doesn’t come to attention,” said Det O’Brien.

The defendant told the court that he had lost a child and Mr McCarthy explained that this had triggered the more recent drug abuse. 

“I have seven national boxing championships for Ireland,” the defendant said. 

“I boxed for Ireland,” the defendant added. 

Mr McCarthy said the defendant was back boxing while in prison and is back to his old self.  

Judge John O’Leary noted Detective O’Brien had been “very sympathetic to the accused” but he also noted the 63 previous convictions. 

“A spree of very serious offences where he goes into other people’s houses late at night,” was how Judge O’Leary summed up the crimes. 

He imposed a total of eight months in prison to run consecutively to the sentence being served. He fixed recognisance in case of appeal. 

Mr McCarthy asked that the Judge consider suspending the sentence or part of the sentence. 

“I have been reasonably lenient considering what he has done,” the judge said as he refused the request.