Car thief jailed for 10 months

RICKY TROOPE (20) of 23 Raithin Cuilinn, Gorey was jailed for ten months on conviction for taking cars and burglary.

The young man entered pleas of guilty through solicitor Lana Doherty when he was brought before Gorey Court.

Judge John Cheatle learned how the defendant was staying as a guest at a house in Raithín Cuilinn when he stole the house car which he took without permission.

He also took a television. He committed a similar offence when a guest at 8 Newborough, again taking a car without permission.

The burglary charge arose after he was caught with a knife sharpener and a couple of screwdrivers in another house in Newborough, which was unoccupied at the time.

At least eight previous convictions for unauthorised taking of cars showed up on his record, along with counts of burglary, theft and drugs possession.

He had been before courts in Dublin, Bray, Arklow and Wexford as well as Gorey in the past, the court was told.

Ms Doherty suggested that her client had come through a difficult childhood after his father died of an overdose.

She felt that Troope had shown himself capable of hard work when he took a job on a fishing boat.

He had been found to be both pleasant and respectful by the chaplain at Cloverhill Prison while on remand.

While in jail, he missed the christening of his baby daughter, Ms Doherty added.

Judge Cheatle accepted that the defendant appeared to have made great strides while on remand since September.

However, his past record could not be overlooked, making a further spell behind bars inevitable.

Troope was handed consecutive five months sentences, back-dated to September, for taking cars, with a five year disqualification from holding a licence.

The burglary attracted a sentence of six months, suspended.