Insurance wouldn’t pay out for car stolen in Laois as house door was left unlocked

A court sitting was told a car owner’s insurance wouldn’t pay out because a house was unlocked when keys were stolen.

Michael McDonagh (21) of 76 Castleland Park Avenue, Balbriggan, Co Dublin appeared before Portlaoise District Court in connection with a number of thefts in Laois. 

Detective Garda Paul Kelly said the defendant had stolen a white 12 D registered VW Passat CC from outside a house at The Showgrounds, Rathdowney on April 29 last. The keys had been taken after the defendant entered a house through an unlocked front door and the car was discovered crashed and written off in Cork.

“The Volkswagen wasn’t covered by insurance because the household was left unlocked,” he said. 

The man was also accused of interfering with a vehicle at Hunters Lodge, Emo between April 28 and 29 last. He was accused of stealing a white 181D registered Mini Cooper from an address in Dublin which was recovered undamaged. He was further accused of stealing a bank card and Revolut card from a vehicle in Slieve Bloom Heights on April 29 and stealing a bank card and fuel card from a vehicle at O’Daly Terrace, Rathdowney on the same date. 

The man was further charged with stealing a wallet containing €300 and a coin purse from a car at O’Daly Terrace on April 29 and with stealing a black wallet and two electric fobs valued at €100 from a vehicle in O’Daly Terrace on the same date. The man was also accused of stealing a bank card from an unlocked vehicle in Kilminchy, Portlaoise on April 29 and stealing diesel valued at  €90.70 from Circle K, Manor Stone, Ballacolla on the same date. 

Andrew Dunne BL said his client was pleading guilty to the offences. 

Det Kelly said the defendant had six previous convictions. 

Judge Susan Fay asked Det Kelly if he had canvassed the victims of the crimes. 

“These are serious charges and they had significant consequences for the victims,” said Judge Fay. 

Garda Kelly agreed and said “there were two vehicles stolen and a burglary.”  He requested two weeks to get victim impact statements. 

Mr Dunne said “this gentleman is very anxious to have his mum present when being sentenced.” 

Judge Fay asked if the man had any compensation for the victims. Mr Dunne said he hadn’t as he wasn’t working. 

Judge Fay adjourned the matter back to Portlaoise District Court on April 14 for victim impact statements and finalisation.