Venue robbed onthree occasions

A HEROIN addict who broke into a Drogheda venue three times within 11 days and stole items belonging to a person who was storing them there has been sentenced to five months in prison.

Paul Byrne (44), of No Fixed Abode, is currently serving a ten month sentence on other matters and is due to be released from prison on December 2nd.

Judge John Coughlan imposed the five month sentence to run concurrent to the sentence he is serving, meaning his sentence has not been extended.

The defendant pleaded guilty to burglary at Little Duke Theatre on Duke Street between February 9th and February 10th; February 11th and February 12th and between February 18th and February 20th.

He gained access to the building by breaking a basement window and took the items.

When Judge John Coughlan enquired as to why he burgled the premises three times, Inspector Brendan Cadden said ‘He’s a heroin addict. He has committed a lot of break-ins around the town previously.’

Defence solicitor Patrick Goodwin told the court the defendant is serving ten months and asked Judge Coughlan not to add to the sentence.

The judge imposed the five month sentence to run concurrently.