Judge delays sentencing until after burglar's birthday

A Dublin judge has allowed a serial burglar to have his sentence delayed until after his birthday, but warned him not to celebrate "too much".

Judge Mary Ellen Ring told Darren Coffey, 35, to continue cooperating with probation officers and with FÁS services for three months before she hands down a sentence for burglary in October.

Coffey, who has 80 previous convictions for burglary, pointed out that his birthday would be on October 28th, Judge Ring asked whether it would be better for him to be sentenced before or after.

Coffey said he would rather it be after, so Judge Ring remanded him on continuing bail until sentence on Halloween.