Burglars enjoyed Christmas dinner at top restaurant
The four enjoyed wines and food before leaving with electronic equipment, paintings and a “takeaway” of food, the Circuit Civil Court heard.
The court was told Home RBVR Ltd, trading as Brasserie Sixty6, in George’s St, Dublin, settled a €27,400 damages claim against a security firm. The restaurant owners alleged the alarm, fitted during pre-Christmas refurbishments, had failed to go off when the restaurant was closed and burgled in 2005.
Barrister Ivan Daly told Mr Justice Matthew Deery that the restaurant was suing the security company for negligence and breach of contract in its fitting of the alarm.
The court learned that investigations had shown that when the alarm was being installed by Safe and Secure Ltd, wire connectors at the back door had allegedly not been fitted.
On Christmas Eve 2005, two men had broken into the restaurant through the rear door, and had left with some drinks. They left the door “on the latch” in order to come back for more.
On Christmas Day, two homeless men, walking in a laneway behind the restaurant, noticed the rear door ajar. They pushed their way in and spent the day in the restaurant, drinking wine and eating food.
Meanwhile, on Christmas night, the two original burglars returned and amicably joined the homeless pair, afterwards leaving with electronic equipment, paintings and a “takeaway” of food. They had also “fished out” €8,000 in notes from the restaurant’s drop safe using fishing rods.
The civil bill showed that damage to the property, including damage to the rear door and several internal doors, amounted to €11,000.
The intruders had since been prosecuted and pleaded guilty to their crime.
Mr Daly said a settlement offer had been accepted by the restaurant owners. Judge Deery struck out the case with agreement for an award of legal costs against Safe & Secure Ltd.
