Stolen tools guilty plea

A man who had tools stolen from a house he was working on in Ballygawley saw them for sale in a car park in Sligo a month later, Sligo Circuit Court has heard.

Bernard (Barney) McGinley of Alma Terrace and formerly of Connaughton Rd pleaded guilty to the possession of stolen property at Connaughton Road on March 23rd, 2018. McGinley had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge and a jury had been empaneled.

However, at the last sittings of Sligo Circuit Court in November a guilty plea was entered.

The tools, a Hilti cordless drill and a Draper skill saw were discovered in the boot of McGinley’s car on March 23rd, 2018.

Giving evidence, Sergeant John Walsh told the court Thomas McLoughlin reported the thefts of the tools from a house he had been working on in Ballygawley on February 24 th, 2018.

He left the house for approximately two hours and the tools were gone when he returned. One month later he observed the tools for sale in the boot of a car at Connaughton Road car park and reported this to gardaí.

On March 23rd gardaí spoke with McGinley and seized the items. The court was told gardaí were happy the markings on the tools matched with information provided by Mr McLoughlin.

In an interview with gardaí, McGinley said he purchased the tools at a market in Drumshanbo on the last Saturday of February, the same day the tools were reported stolen.

He said he purchased them at approximately 2.30pm and paid €55 for the drill and €20 to €25 for the saw. Sergeant Walsh put it to him in interview that it was impossible for him to have purchased them at a market in Drumshanbo on the day as the tools were not reported stolen until after 2.30pm.

The court heard McGinley had three previous convictions, including assault causing harm, dating back to 2011. Mr Pat O’Sullivan, BL, instructed by Morgan Coleman, solicitor, put it to the sergeant that his client may have been mistaken with time frames in relation to the purchase, however, Sergeant Walsh maintained it was ‘impossible’ for the goods to be on sale in Drumshanbo with the serial numbers removed 15 minutes after they were reported stolen.

Mr O’Sullivan said his client was 44 years old and was the father of five children. He said his client was adamant he bought he goods and was not hiding them.

Judge Francis Comerford convicted McGinley, sentencing him to a three-month suspended prison sentence providing €300 is paid before the next sitting of Sligo Circuit Court in May.