MAN JAILED FOR FOUR YEARS FOR ATM THEFT ROLE
A 29-YEAR-OLD Dublin man with a Carlow address who pleaded guilty to the theft of €205,000 in an ATM raid in Enniscorthy in July 2009 was jailed for four years when he came before Judge Barry Hickson at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court.
Joseph Berry, of Closhpump, Tullow Road, Carlow, who the court was told is a native of Dublin, also pleaded guilty to damage of the exterior wall of the premises at Mace Service Station, Bellefield; theft of an IFOR Williams trailer, property of John Walsh valued at €1200; theft of a Mitsubishi Pajero, property of Thomas Walsh; and with the taking of a vehicle in Waterford, property of Colum Burke.
Det Garda Michael Kelly told the court that the Ulster Bank ATM at Mace in Bellefield, was forcibly removed by a criminal gang resulting in €44,303 in criminal damage to the premises.
The court was told that Michael ‘B’ Berry, who was identified as the leader of the gang, had been sentenced to six years after a lengthy trial in relation to the robbery. Desmond Kavanagh, who was also involved, was sentenced to four years, while Thomas Berry was sentenced to five years for his role in the robbery. A fifth defendant remains at large, Det Garda Michael Kelly told the court.
Det Kelly said that this case arose out of a national investigation in relation to the theft of ATM machines. Enniscorthy Garda Station was the the head office for the investigation. He outlined details of the thefts to the court which ultimately led to the theft of the ATM at Bellefield. The ATM was detached from the wall, placed in a trailer and brought to Carlow where it was forced open with €205,000 divided between five people.
Det Kelly said none of the money was recovered.
Defence Counsel Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC said that it would only be fair and proper that the defendant’s guilty plea be recognised. O Lideadha said his client had no previous convictions and was only 22 years of age at the time of the robbery.
He fled the country following this, going to many countries around Europe, before being extradited back from Germany on a European arrest warrant.
Judge Hickson described it as a very organised crime directed by one member of the gang ably assisted by others including the the defendant and was carried out with great determination. These are serious crimes, causing serios loss to citizens of this country, said the judge.
He sentenced the defendant to four years in prison on the ATM theft, back-dated to February 1, 2016. the date he was taken into custody. He was also given a four year concurrent sentence on damage to property; two concurrent 18-month sentences for the thefts of the trailer and Mitsubishi Pajero and a three-year concurrent sentence for theft of the motor vehicle in Waterford.