Car stripped of body kit while parked in town centre car park

A 26-year-old man has pleaded guilty to handling stolen property after it was heard he drove to Wine Street car park where a high-powered Japanese car was stripped of its body work.

Kevin Cassidy with an address of Creelaughta, Ballinamuck, Co Longford appeared before Sligo District Court for handling stolen property on May 22nd, 2013 at his address. A second charge of stealing property was withdrawn.

The court heard gardaí suspected Cassidy to be the driver of a van which was involved in the stripping of body work of a car parked at Wine Street car park.

A subsequent warrant was issued to search Cassidy’s home and a rear bumper, front bumper and side panels for the Altezza car were recovered.

The car had been stripped of it’s panels and bumpers shortly before midnight on the night in question.

Representing Cassidy, Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor, told the court there was three others in Cassidy’s van on the night who may have had ‘greater interest’ in taking the parts.

The court heard Cassidy had 18 previous convictions, including no insurance, fraudulent use of a tax disc and careless driving.

Mr McGovern said since 2013 his client had completely changed his life and now works in London and is a father.

Judge Kevin Kilrane commented that the matter was a ‘very serious offence’ and that Cassidy had failed to appear in court on the matter in 2014.

“It’s a shocking set of facts,” said Judge Kilrane. The judge accepted Cassidy had cooperated with gardaí and had not re offended in the state since 2013. He convicted Cassidy, fining him €500 and directing a further €500 be donated to Social Groundforce in Sligo.