Kilcoole man gets nine months for offences in Louth
A 35-year-old man attempted to break into a house hours after being released from garda custody, having been charged with burglary, a district court in Louth heard last week.
Seamus (Shay) Casey, with an address at Kilcoole, Co Wicklow, pleaded guilty to trespassing arising out of that incident, as well as burglary charges, with all the offences committed in Drogheda over a four-day period at the end of May last.
The court heard defendant has no connection with the town and came to Drogheda to stay with a friend, having been told by gardaí in Bray that his life was under threat over drug debts.
After hearing Casey has 36 previous convictions, Judge Conal Gibbons remarked ‘ he has been around the houses in every sense of the word.’
Inspector Brendan Cadden gave evidence that on May 27, a vehicle in the driveway of a house in Hardman’s Gardens was broken into. A description of the culprit was given to the gardaí and when Casey was subsequently searched, some of the property taken was found on him.
He also entered a house in Boyle O’Reilly Terrace through a rear window before ransacking a number of rooms and pulling an alarm from the wall. Jewellery he took was recovered, but not a quantity of sterling.
On May 28, the inspector continued, after being charged with that burglary, he was released from custody at 2.35 a.m., and within three hours had gone to a house at Liscorrie on the north side of Drogheda. He was observed attempting to break into the house, and when Casey saw the gardaí, he jumped into a neighbouring garden before being followed and arrested.
The court also heard of another burglary which occurred at Beechgrove, and came to light when the victim returned home to find the kitchen, living room and a bedroom had been ransacked.
A laptop, jewellery and clothing were recovered when Casey was arrested.
Barrister Ronan O’Carroll said his client was asked to leave his friend’s house in Drogheda when he started taking heroin again. He had nowhere to stay, and when he saw the property at Liscorrie was vacant, he had no other intention but to rest his head.
Casey has a hazy recollection of other events, which occurred over a four-day period when he was homeless. Mr O’Carroll added the choices he opted for are troubling. Alcohol and drugs are major features of his life, and he is no stranger to a prison cell, which doesn’t seem to have worked or had a rehabilitative effect.
Judge Gibbons remarked while Casey is not the cleverest criminal, he has an audacity and cheek, and knew what he was doing by sussing out these properties. He said Casey has no respect for anyone else’s property and created a sense of anxiety for the victims, whose security he threatened.
The judge sentenced him to a total of nine months’ imprisonment. With less than nine weeks to go until the Wicklow rugby girls and ladies take on Canada the line up of matches has now been confirmed.
The first team will take to the pitch on August 13 playing the Toronto Irish. The under 18s will be the first Irish club youths side to ever play a match on Canadian soil. They will be followed by the ladies team.
The Wicklow teams will be treated to a barbecue and entertainment after the match.
This match will be followed by a game against Lindsey RFC on August 17 and Missisuaga Blues on August 20.
It promises to be an exciting but hectic schedule with three matches in seven days. On the home front the local support for the girls tour continues with two local business showing there backing for the girls tour by sponsoring the girls with gear. Diana Sheridan from Allshades sponsored a full tracksuit for both teams and Iain Fisher representing Avenger Alarms sponsored both teams with two training shirts. One of the main highlights for the tour organisers has been the absolutely fabulous support from the local community, it has really blown them away.