Burglar spat at garda’s eye after showing scene of break-in

A Dublin man who showed gardaí how he burgled a credit union but later turned aggressive and spat at an officer’s eye has been jailed for three years.

Thomas Plunkett, aged 44, of Markievicz House in the south inner city, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary at St Patrick’s Credit Union, Herbert Place, attempted burglary at Merrion Square and assault of Garda Paul Carroll at Pearse St Garda Station on Easter Monday, April 21, 2014.

He has 64 previous convictions including 18 burglaries, one robbery, and three assaults all dealt with at district court level.

Plunkett was caught with a laptop and overhead projector belonging to the credit union a short distance from where he had tried to break into a Merrion Square home.

Garda Barry Moran said Plunkett, who had cuts and blood on his face, neck, and hands, first said he did not know what was in the bags he had been trying to hide.

He then co-operated and showed gardaí the credit union’s smashed window, but turned aggressive when officers took his phone.

Judge Sarah Berkeley imposed a four-year sentence and suspended the final year on strict conditions.

Oisin Clarke, defending, submitted that his client offered no excuses for his aggression, but could not recall the day as he had taken so many tablets.

Counsel said Plunkett got involved with heroin as a teenager due to a tragic bereavement and then relapsed when his wife died in 2012.

Mr Clarke submitted that his client had a good work history and used to deliver medication to infirm elderly people for a pharmacy.