MAN STOLE FROM SLEEPING TOURISTS IN A TOWN CENTRE HOSTEL
A man who entered a Sligo hostel in the dead of night and stole from two sleeping female tourists has been convicted and fined at the District Court.
22- year- old Warren Fenelon, originally from Wexford, was captured going through the women’s trousers on CCTV footage in the hostel at 5 Union Place, Sligo on April 16th last.
Inspector Paul Kilcoyne told Judge Kevin Kilrane that Fenelon was seen stealing while the women slept. He stole jewellery and ¤ 35 cash. All items except the cash was recovered. Fenelon’s defence solicitor Mr Fergal Kelly told the court that he was “not your typical thief ” and the incident was “out of character” for him.
He argued that a conviction would have a serious effect on Fenelon’s livelihood.
“He came to Sligo for a fresh start in February,” said Mr Kelly. He said Fenelon “literally stumbled into the hostel as he lived next door.”
“I was drunk that night. I had been drinking from 12 that day. I just came upon an unlocked door,” Fenelon told the judge in the witness box.
“How could he stumble into the hostel bedroom?” Asked Judge Kilrane. “I went up to the room,” he said. “Did you notice people sleeping?” asked the judge. “I took the trousers out and searched them on the landing,” said Fenelon.
Mr Kelly interjected that Fenelon had family living in Australia and hoped to travel there to look for work.
Judge Kilrane said it was “a premeditated larceny” whereupon Fenelon went through an open hostel door and up the stairs into one of the bedrooms in a “very premediated way.”
“He mustn’t have been that drunk because he didn’t wake them. But it’s an absolutely frightful sight if anyone was to wake up and see a robber in their room,” said Judge Kilrane.
He said robbers when confronted and felt cornered sometimes resorted to violence but thankfully that hadn’t happened in this case.
He said that in mitigation, Fenelon had no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty to the offence. Mr Kelly asked the judge if he would leave the matter hanging over Fenelon’s head for a time.
“No, this is extremely serious,” replied Judge Kilrane. “It’s happening all over the country. The facts speak for themselves,” he added.
He convicted Fenelon and fined him ¤ 400.