Chip shop burglar leaves calling card for gardaí

A burglar who threw a concrete block through the window of a chip shop and tried to smash his way into the cash register in the early hours of the morning gave investigators a head start — by leaving a calling card.

Tue, 15 Jan, 2013 - 00:00

Liam Heylin

David Grealish, aged 37, from Fairgreen Hostel, Fairgreen, Galway, struck at Lennox’s chipper at Anglesea St, Cork, in the early hours of Nov 11.

Gardaí investigating the break-in arrived to find the front window had been smashed by a concrete block, which was found on the floor of the premises.

Investigators also found blood on the broken front window and they found more blood on the cash register, where the intruder had attempted to open it.

They found something else on the floor of the chip shop — a medical card in the name of David Grealish.

A few hours later, gardaí met Grealish in Cork city and noticed he had a cut to his wrist, Inspector Bill Duane said yesterday.

Grealish pleaded guilty at Cork District Court yesterday to the burglary.

Judge Leo Malone imposed a seven-month jail sentence.

Solicitor Frank Buttimer said Grealish had longstanding alcohol difficulties which he managed to address sporadically.