Homeless Corkman living in tent in former neighbour's garden stole car owned by person in the area

Accused admitted to owner he had stolen his car from outside Mahon home and said it had a flat tyre and ran out of petrol before being abandoned in Glanmire, court told

Accused man had 68 previous convictions, one for unauthorised taking of a car, 12 for theft, 20 for being drunk and a danger and eight for engaging in threatening words or behaviour. Picture: Larry Cummins

A homeless man who was originally from the Mahon area was given permission by a former neighbour to pitch his tent in their garden but now he has been jailed for stealing a car belonging to another person in the area.

As details of the case were being put before Cork District Court in relation to 29-year-old Patrick Cummins of no fixed address on Friday, Judge Mary Dorgan recalled: “This is the gentleman who was living in a kind neighbour’s garden.” 

Judge Dorgan sentenced him to six months imprisonment with the last two months of that sentence suspended for a year on condition he would comply with directions of the probation service.

The judge said particular attention should be given to the defendant addressing his addiction difficulties with the probation service during that 12-month period.

Judge Dorgan said: “I would be hoping that would open doors for you to get your alcohol difficulties dealt with.” 

Sergeant Gearóid Davis outlined the background to the offence committed by Mr Cummins.

The defendant took a car without permission of the owner on February 13 and later told the owner he had taken it.

On that date, the owner of the car reported to gardaí that his car had been stolen from the driveway of his home at Avenue de Rennes, Mahon, overnight. It was found abandoned in Glanmire.

The owner said he had been contacted by the accused, who admitted to him he had stolen his car. Patrick Cummins followed this up with similar admissions to gardaí.

He also went into some details about the incident where he said the car had a flat tyre and ran out of petrol before being abandoned in Glanmire.

The accused man had 68 previous convictions, one for unauthorised taking of a car, 12 for theft, 20 for being drunk and a danger and eight for engaging in threatening words or behaviour.