Jailed for ‘calculated campaign of thefts’

A Romanian who came to Cork for “a calculated campaign of theft” was jailed for a year yesterday.

Suraj Bretianu, 39, claimed through defence solicitor, Eddie Burke, that he came to Ireland to get better healthcare for his wife who is seriously ill. Judge Leo Malone noted that the accused man had an address at The Boulevard, Mount Garrett, Tyrrrelstown, Dublin, but that all of the thefts he carried out were in Cork city over a short period of days.

Mr Burke said the accused maintained that he got a phonecall from his mother to the effect that his brother was missing and last seen in Cork so he came to the city to find him. Judge Malone said: “He came to Cork purely for the purpose of stealing from people. This was a calculated campaign of theft.”