Man lost arm in theft bid

A Wicklow man has avoided jail after he lost an arm in an attempt to

He was caught after gardaí found a huge amount of blood at the scene and called hospitals to see if anyone had been admitted with matching injuries.

Tyrell told gardaí he tripped and fell on a live wire in the substation while trying to retrieve his dog.

Gardaí asked him why he was wearing gloves, parts of which had fused to his hand when he was electrocuted. He has since admitted it was an attempted burglary.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted he lost his arm in an attempt to make a small profit. She said his actions had affected many people, particularly those who might have been relying on electricity to power medical equipment. She imposed a two-year sentence which she suspended on condition that Tyrell engages with the Probation Service for 12 months.

Tyrell of Ard Chualann, Bray, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to criminal damage at the ESB substation in Sandyford, south Dublin on April 22, 2013.

Defence counsel Michael Connellan said Tyrell was very lucky to be alive and will have to live with the consequences for the rest of his life. He said he made up the story about his dog because he was embarrassed.