Man accused of Donegal autoparts theft spree appears in court via videolink
The defendant faces charges for a spree of thefts in Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and around the country
A man charged in relation to a spate of thefts in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim remains in Castlerea Prison while instructions are being awaited for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
John O’Connor, 47, with an address listed as 75 Bride Street, Dublin 8, was before Sligo District Court via videolink on Thursday, July 10.
He has been in custody since April when he was arrested in April at St Andrew Street Post Office in Dublin by Donegal gardaí Sergeant Oliver Devaney and Garda Brian Gallagher. The Donegal Town gardaí were investigating a number of thefts in the north west.
Sergeant Derek Butler told the court that to date, DPP directions had been given on one matter only. It is alleged 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.
The sergeant said that the DPP had directed this matter for summary disposal, meaning that it can be heard in the district court. This was accepted by Judge Sandra Murphy.
The remaining charges on which DPP direction is awaited are: that on April 18, 2025 at Central Auto Parts, Letterkenny, he is alleged to have stolen autoparts to the value €223, the property of Thomas McGee.
On the same date, it is alleged that at Robert Kee and Sons, Laghey, O’Connor 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 Nessan 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.
Bail was refused on that date and O’Connor remains in custody in Castlerea Prison. It was requested by Mr McGovern that his client would receive all medical and psychiatric support that was required. This was included in the remand order made by Judge Murphy.
The court heard that the defendant is before a number of other courts around the country on similar charges.
Judge Murphy remanded him in custody to appear at Sligo District Court via videolink on Thursday, July 31 when it is hoped that the outstanding DPP directions will be available.
On the matter of the alleged theft of coal, the judge ordered that disclosure be made to Mr McGovern.