Addict gets four years for toy shop burglary

Pinocchio’s toy shop in Paul St, Cork City, suffered a damaging blow days before Christmas when it was burgled, with €1,200 taken and the bank card machine smashed.

Mark Hurley, aged 21, of 3 Dumanus Crescent, Knocknaheeny, was jailed for four years for the crime.

The burglary was carried out in the early hours of December 22, 2014. The store owner was left without the bank card facility so could only accept cash payments from customers on the three days before Christmas.

Judge Gerard O’Brien said the commercial impact was considerable. He imposed a six-year sentence, with the last two years suspended.

There were other aggravating factors, including that Hurley has 23 previous convictions for burglaries. He was actually serving a sentence for burglary at the time but had been allowed out on temporary release.

Ray Boland, defending, said Hurley was addicted to cocaine and committed crimes to fund his addiction.