Community service for dad of four

A father of four has been given 80 hours of community service in lieu of a prison sentence after he was found in possession of a screwdriver with intent to use it during the course of a theft.

Patrick Maughan of Laveymore halting site, Charlestown pleaded guilty to the offence after previously electing for a jury trial for the offence.

Sergeant John Walsh told Sligo Circuit Court on January 27 th, 2017 while on patrol in the Tubbercurry area gardaí spoke with Maughan at his vehicle and noted it had no valid tax disc.

Maughan said he was on his way to a funeral.

The vehicle was not registered to Maughan and he was not insured on the car.

Asked if he had anything in his vehicle, Maughan said, ‘No’ and said, ‘search away’.

He made no reply when asked why he was in possession of the screwdriver.

It was after the detection that a report from Alan Duggan, the owner of a jeep was received stating that the fly window of his vehicle had been removed but all that was missing was €2.

The screwdriver was sent for forensic analysis and results showed flecks of paint strongly supporting a match with Mr Duggan’s vehicle.

The court was told Maughan had 20 previous convictions, seven for theft, eight for road traffic offences, two for public order matters and one each for assault, drug possession, and criminal damage.

Mr Keith O’Grady, BL informed the court €2 was missing from the vehicle and an angle grinder was left behind.

He said no forensics linked his client to the screwdriver or linking him to the car break in.

The court was told there had been no incidents since this matter.

Judge Francis Comerford described the Probation Report as ‘favourable’ and sentenced him to 80 hours of community service in lieu of a four-month prison sentence.

Judge Comerford commended the gardaí for their investigation using forensics.