Man jailed over string of Kerry burglaries

A 50-year-old man whose “modus operandi” was targeting vulnerable people in burglaries has been handed a four-year jail sentence.

William Hogan, of no fixed abode but who was at one time living in Mayfield in Cork, admitted four counts of burglary at homes in Killarney, Annablatha, Finnegan’s Cross, and Castlegregory in the week of June 24 and July 1 last year.

The Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee was told how Hogan had entered the home of an 80-year-old blind man at Cliff Rd, Castlegregory, on July 1, and gave a false name.

A relative who looked after the man had just left the house. Hogan entered the bedroom and the kitchen of the elderly man, at one point searching the bed, Det Garda Tom Burke said, in what was described as a very frightening episode for the man.

The relative returned and saw a man leaving the property and took down the car registration. Hogan was later arrested in Cork at another scene of unlawful entry and was “caught red-handed”.

Hogan has dozens of previous convictions including 48 for burglary alone.

Judge Thomas E O’Donnell said the modus operandi seemed to be to find the isolated houses of vulnerable people and violate their homes.