Swords man caught with stolen items in boot sentenced to jail

A man who was caught with property stolen during a number of house burglaries in Co Louth in the boot of his car has been given four-year sentence for this offence, as well as for two burglaries and criminal damage.

Brian Clarke (aged 24) of Cronan’s Avenue, Swords, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of trespass and theft in two houses in Swords, and to criminal damage and to handling stolen property on dates between July 21 and November 25, 2008.

He had 29 previous convictions for burglary, handling stolen property, theft and road traffic offences.

Judge Katherine Delahunt noted Clarke’s genuine remorse and the efforts he has made to deal with his addiction.

She imposed concurrent sentences totalling four years and suspended the final year on conditions.

Garda Karl McNamara told Ms Anne Marie Lawlor BL, prosecuting, that a number of items including a Nintendo, DVDs, a digital camera, cigarettes and a laptop were taken during the course of a number of burglaries in the Louth area in November 2008.

Garda McNamara was on patrol on November 25 and started to follow a vehicle after he spotted it driving erratically. The car eventually came to a halt but the passenger fled while Clarke remained in the driver’s seat.

He was arrested and a search of the car revealed a large number of items in the boot.

Garda McNamara said Clarke initially denied any knowledge of the stolen goods but later made full admissions.

Garda Gary MacEntee told Ms Lawlor that the barrel had been taken from the patio door of one Swords house before a watch, €2,000 and food were stolen.

The following month, while the other Swords home owner was on holidays, Clarke broke in and took a television before he ransacked the house. The neighbours later boarded up the building to secure it.

Garda MacEntee said all the family jewellery had been taken from this house. Fingerprints lifted from the stolen television, which was later found in a neighbour’s garden, linked Clarke to the crimes.

He was co-operative when arrested and made full admissions.