Jailed for possessing €2k of stolen phone wire

A 25-year-old man who pleaded guilty to possession of stolen phone wire was sentenced to three months in prison by Judge Kevin Kilrane at last Thursday’s sitting of Sligo District Court.

John McDonagh, of 24 Brookfield, Ballinode was charged with possession of stolen phone wire valued at €2,500 on September 14 th 2018 in Alma Terrace, Finisklin.

The phone wire was the property of eir, the court heard.

Defending solicitor Mr Gerard McGovern said that his client had been in custody in Castlerea Prison since January.

Sergeant Derek Butler told the court the defendant had 34 previous convictions.

Mr McGovern told the judge his client had a poor record.

“This man has got himself in considerable trouble,” he admitted.

He said that McDonagh had moved from Kerry to live in Sligo as he had married a local girl with whom he has a number of children.

He was in custody in Castlerea Prison since January.

He explained an application had been made last week to the High Court for bail, adding that it was good to know the District Court was taking precedent over the High Court.

In relation to the case, Mr McGovern indicated that his client was not the only person involved.

He said there were other parties there and McDonagh was the younger of the people in the vehicle that day.

He added that cable was taken and that people think when they see cable lying around they can take it and put it in the back of a van, but they cannot do this.

He asked the judge to bear in mind that he was a young man with children.

Judge Kilrane said the defendant had numerous previous convictions and had served time and the previous convictions remove a significant element of mitigation.

He said the only mitigating factor here was the guilty plea.

“Certain people we know steal and use this material to burn off the plastic covering to expose the wire and sell it to whoever buys that type of thing.”

He said the process usually involves burning and producing highly toxic fumes, adding that he appreciates McDonagh was not charged with that.

Judge Kilrane said for a period of time the stealing of wire was rampant, marking it as a very serious offence.

Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, there was part of a Probation Report in court and the judge said he would have to proceed as best he could.

He convicted and sentenced McDonagh to three months in prison, starting on last Thursday’s date.