Trainee guard stole wallet while on duty at Offaly domestic incident

A TRAINEE guard stole a man's wallet when he was on duty at a domestic incident in a house, Tullamore District Court heard.

What Dale Howard (26) had done was described as a “complete breach of trust” by his solicitor and by Judge Valerie Corcoran.

Mr Howard, with an address at Rahanine pleaded guilty to theft of a wallet at a house in Boyne Meadows, Edenderry on February 2 last.

The charge brought against Mr Howard also alleged the theft of an apple airtag, a Tesla key and assorted payment cards to a total value of €300.

A plea of guilty was entered in court by defending solicitor Philip Meagher who stressed that the plea had been flagged at a very early stage.

Sergeant Richard Thornton said Mr Howard was a student guard on duty when gardai attended at a domestic incident at 2.30am.

Mr Howard stole a wallet from the premises and it was later recovered. The accused, who had no previous convictions, was very co-operative after admitting what he had done, added Sergeant Thornton.

Mr Meagher said there was a “completely incomprehensible matrix of facts” in the case.

Mr Howard had joined the gardai in September last year and since childhood it had always been his dream to do so.

He had friends when he was in training and “was absolutely loving the experience”, said the solicitor.

He had been posted to Tullamore for the next tranche of his training and as part of that he attended at the property where “in an absolutely insane moment of madness” on the spur of the moment, he simply saw the wallet on a kitchen table or island and “pocketed” it.

Though at a later stage he came to his senses and realised how foolish he and should have informed his superiors immediately and admitted his mistake and dealt with the matter, he did not at first.

Instead, said Mr Meagher, he “doubled down on his mistake” and tried to dispose of the wallet.

When the theft was discovered he immediately broke down and immediately co-operated. What he had done was obviously a breach of trust in his position as a serving member of An Garda Siochana and as a trainee, said the solicitor.

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He said his client's act had been “very random” and he had been removed from his duties and from the force.

As a result he had lost his garda college friends, he had let down his unit and must bear all of the shame, the embarrassment and the consequences.

Mr Howard knew he had made a huge error and realised he needed some professional help.

He began counselling sessions and a letter handed into the court indicated he had attended six of those.

Mr Meagher said the counselling was still continuing.

The solicitor also revealed the man had penned a letter to the victim in which he acknowledged his utter shame, embarrassment, remorse and regret and he appreciated the incident caused the victim understandable upset.

Judge Corcoran was told by Sergeant Thornton that the injured party did not wish to provide the court with a victim impact statement.

Mr Meagher said the defendant had €700 cash in court and would provide €1,000 in total when given time.

He had taken a position in an insurance company and he rented a property with his partner.

A man from a rural community, he had lost his friends and associations with family members.

While he fully appreciated he was the author of his own misfortune and that it was all on his shoulders, what he had done had life changing consequences for him.

“It has had huge consequences for him and he has lost his dream career.”

Judge Corcoran said she would not finalise the matter immediately. She said it was a case where unfortunately a member of the force was in a position of trust at a property where a domestic incident was taking place and where “there was clearly a vulnerable person in need of professional assistance” from the gardai.

Instead of carrying out the duties appropriately to assist the individual who was in distress there was a complete breach of trust.

The judge said she viewed the matter as a very serious one but appreciated everything the solicitor had said.

She suggested the preparation of a restorative justice report and Mr Meagher said his client would engage in that process.

Judge Corcoran remanded Mr Howard on continuing bail to appear in court again on January 14 next for the report, compensation and finalisation.