Teen broke into house 15 mins after getting bail

A teenager who broke into a pensioner’s home 15 minutes after his release on bail from a garda station has been jailed for three years by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

John Kinlan, aged 19, of Johnstown Gardens, Finglas confronted a 71-year-old man at 4.30am with what turned out to be a toy gun but left the house without injuring the victim or taking anything.

Garda Gerry Lee told Ms Caroline Biggs BL, prosecuting, that Kinlan left his fingerprints on a window frame. He had also seen Kinlan in the vicinity of the house around the time of the crime.

Kinlan pleaded guilty to the burglary in Fairview on June 24, 2003.

Garda Lee said Kinlan climbed up a drainpipe and in through an upstairs window of the house in which a 71-year-old man was sleeping alone.

The man thought it was his son home from night shiftwork but got no reply when he called out to him.

He then got out of bed and was confronted by Kinlan who pointed what seemed like a gun at him and forced him down the stairs.

The man ran to the door to open it knowing that would set-off the alarm. Kinlan ran off and a neighbour called the gardaí in answer to the victim’s calls for help.

Garda Lee told Ms Biggs he had arrested Kinlan earlier that night for damaging a car and the burglary happened just 15 minutes after his release from Clontarf Garda Station on bail.

Kinlan had 12 previous convictions.

The victim was very traumatised by the event.

Ms Martina Baxter BL, defending, said Kinlan had no memory of his actions that night as a result of consuming alcohol and some drugs.

Ms Baxter said drink had a big effect on Kinlan’s life but he was now taking cognisance of his future.

He was in the drug free section of prison and was studying for the Leaving Certificate.

"He is remorseful for his action and throws himself on the mercy of the court,", she said.

Judge Hogan suspended the final six months of the sentence on condition that Kinlan remain out of trouble for five years and participates in a drugs and alcohol rehabilitation course.