Suspended sentence for Longford burglary

A suspended prison sentence was imposed on a man charged with burglary and criminal damage.

Gareth Kenna of 2 Drumheath Grove, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 was charged with burglary at a Longford address in which he stole a mobile phone on February 2, 2021. He was further charged with criminal damage at that address.

Defence counsel Seoirse Fennessy said his client had missed the previous court sitting as he had to attend the family law court on a separate matter around the same time and got the dates mixed up. He had made himself available for the execution of a bench warrant.

The court heard in one incident a phone had been stolen from the injured party from the address and afterwards when they rang the phone, the defendant answered.

The damage caused to the property came to €1,500.

There were 104 previous convictions recorded for the defendant, mostly for road traffic offences but also for burglary and unlawful taking of a car.

Judge Bernadatte Owens noted the probation report before the court and also the guilty plea from the defendant. She wished for probation services to continue to supervise the defendant.

“The charges before the court are very serious,” Mr Fennessy accepted. The 104 previous convictions represented “a serious amount of criminality,” he added.

However, the defendant is now trying to better himself.

He is now living in Blanchardstown and has completed a course in Coolmine in drug rehabilitation. He is continuing with treatment, twice a week.

The defendant had €200 before the court and will have more in the new year. “I will pay for the damage,” the defendant told the court.

He has started up his own vehicle recovery business, through the back-to-work scheme. He is also supporting his son.

Judge Owens said she would suspend the prison sentence on condition the defendant continues to engage with the Probation Services and pays compensation to the injured party.

A five months’ prison sentence was imposed, which was suspended for 18 months on the defendant’s own bond of €250 on the criminal damage charge.

He is to pay a further €1,000 in compensation, in addition to the €200 handed in to the court, by April 13 next.

If the money is not repaid, then the matter can be re-entered by gardaí, Judge Owens said.