Alleged serial thief will avoid circuit court trial if he pleads guilty in Donegal

A man charged with six counts of theft including from a number of autoparts premises in Donegal has been told that his case will be heard in the district court rather than by trial in the circuit court.

However, this is only if he chooses to plead guilty. 

John O’Connor, with an address listed as 75 Bride Street, Dublin 8, was before Sligo District Court via videolink from Castlerea Prison on Wednesday, August 27. He has been in custody in Castlerea Prison since April, having been refused bail. At a court sitting earlier this month, O’Connor expressed his dissatisfaction at how long the matter had been going on with no direction from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on five of six charges that he faced.

Solicitor Gerry McGovern told him at the most recent court appearance that DPP directions were now available.

Sergeant Derek Butler confirmed this, saying: “The DPP has indicated that the matter can be dealt with by way of summary disposal on a plea of guilty.”

 Summary disposal means that the matter can be heard in the district court rather than by way of a jury trial in the circuit court where the penalties are potentially higher. 

It is alleged that on April 18, 2025 at Central Auto Parts, Letterkenny, O’Connor stole autoparts to the value €223, the property of Thomas McGee. 

On the same date, it is alleged that at Robert Kee and Sons, Laghey, he stole autoparts to the value of €300, the property of Shaun Kee.

On April 12, 2025 at Top Part, Ballast Quay, County Sligo, O’Connor is alleged to have stolen autoparts to the value of €3,142, property of Nissan McLaughlin.

He allegedly stole autoparts to the value of €2,905, property of Rory O’Donnell, from Rory’s Auto Spares, Drimark, Donegal Town on February 2. And also at Rory’s Auto Spares, it is alleged that on March 30, 2024, O’Connor stole autoparts to the value of €512 and a set of Mercedes alloy wheels valued at €800.

All offences are contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. When the matter was initially before the court on April 24, Sergeant Devaney said that the total value of goods captured in the charges is €8,034. None of the goods have been recovered.

The sergeant alleged that O’Connor had used a number of different vehicles to carry out the thefts under cover of night, and had been clearly captured on CCTV at all the premises. 

Sergeant Devaney added that he believed that the address furnished by O’Connor, and which was being used for his Disability Allowance, was not in fact his residence though it was the family home. 

The court heard that the defendant is before a number of other courts around the country on similar charges. 

Judge Ciaran Liddy remanded him in custody to appear in person before Ballyshannon District Court on September 5 to deal with the charges listed, including a sixth for which the DPP had previously directed summary disposal.

It is alleged in that case that on January 19, 2025 at McCormack’s Mace Supermarket, Leitrim Village, O’Connor stole eight bags of coal valued at €152, the property of Hubert McCormack.The offence is contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.