Householder nabs burglar with stash as he flees

A burglar who was caught red-handed by one householder with bags containing €4,000 worth of items stolen during a spate of burglaries perpetrated in one night, has been remanded in continuing custody for sentence later this month.

Gerard Barry (22), 17 Leas na Coille, Ballinfoyle Park, pleaded guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court in November to five sample charges of burglary at a house in Rinn Luachra on May 25 last, to burglary at a house at Cnoc na Coille on May 25, and to burglary at another house in Castlepark on the same date.

He pleaded guilty also to causing criminal damage to window and door locks at two other houses in Rinn Luachra on the same date.

Sentence was adjourned to last week but that hearing heard that Barry had not bothered to attend two appointments arranged for him in prison with the probation service last month.

Sergeant Darragh Browne gave evidence at the initial court hearing on November 18 that Barry broke into nine houses on the night of May 25 last; six houses in Rinn Luachra, two in Cnoc na Coille and one in Castlepark.

He attempted five other burglaries on the same night while damage totalling €1,500 was done to all of the houses.

Barry was subsequently charged with fourteen counts of burglary and criminal damage and pleaded guilty to five of the charges.

Sgt. Browne said the burglaries came to light when an occupant of the house in Castlepark went out searching when he realised his house had been burgled.

He caught Barry red-handed with two bags containing €4,000 worth of electrical and other items taken in the break-ins earlier that night.

Barry told Gardai he had taken a concoction of sleeping tablets on the night following a row with his girlfriend and woke up later with the two bags of stolen items.

Sgt. Browne said Barry was remorseful and all of the items were recovered and returned to the owners, but no compensation for the damage caused to the houses was ever paid.

He added Barry had no history of employment, was supported by both of his parents and had 37 previous convictions, including nine for burglaries, one for robbery and two for thefts.

Defence barrister, Geri Silke said Barry suffered from ADHD, had a history of self-harm and had taken prescription sleeping tablets on the night.

She said her client had been in custody since his arrest on May 26 for these offences, was attending counselling while in prison and wanted to change his life.

Judge Rory McCabe said a probation report handed into court stated Barry remained at high risk of reoffending.

He agreed to adjourn sentence to last week and directed the preparation of a probation report.

The court heard last week that Barry had not bothered to attend two probation appointments on December 4 and 8.

On Judge Rory McCabe’s insistence, Barry took the stand to give evidence.

He denied he had ignored the probation service and accused prison officers of not telling him about the second appointment.

Hearing Barry had since begun to engage with support services, Judge McCabe agreed to adjourn sentence to January 29 and he directed the preparation of a probation report for that date.