Car thief was cycling to work when he spotted keys left in SUV, court told

The judge directed a pre-sanction probation report be prepared and remanded the defendant on continuing bail

The courthouse in Clonakilty heard that the accused had 28 previous convictions, was banned from driving and also had a suspended sentence for theft at the time. File picture: Dan Linehan

A man who pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without authority spotted the keys were left in the SUV when he was cycling on his way to work, his defence solicitor said.

Barry Roche, aged 27 with an address at Convent Way, Clonakilty, Co. Cork appeared before Judge John King at Clonakilty District Court where he pleaded guilty to taking the vehicle without permission, driving without a licence and driving without valid insurance.

Court presenter Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told the court that the vehicle was taken from Ashgrove, Clonakilty in the early hours of September 30, 2025.

CCTV footage identified Barry Roche as the suspect and the vehicle was later found locked and parked behind SuperValu in Clonakilty not far from Roche’s address. 

Roche approached the vehicle a short time later and was arrested. He was taken to Clonakilty Garda Station where he admitted taking the vehicle.

Defence solicitor Plunkett Taaffe said it was an opportunistic crime and Roche took the vehicle when he saw the keys were left inside. He said his client was banned from driving and was cycling to work when he came upon the SUV with the keys inside.

The court heard that Roche had 28 previous convictions, was banned from driving and also had a suspended sentence for theft at the time.

Mr Taaffe said Roche, who is originally from Tipperary, had a history of alcohol addiction which was the root cause of most of his convictions. He said his client had apologised and asked the judge to be “as merciful as possible” in the circumstances.

He said Roche was the father of one young child and his partner was expecting another child shortly. He said he had managed to get off alcohol but had suffered a relapse and was working part-time as a welder.

Judge John King said in circumstances where Roche had taken a car, was on a suspended sentence and was also banned from driving “without any shadow of a doubt he should be going to jail.”

The judge said the only factor “staying my hand” was the fact that Roche was fully co-operative and made full admissions.

The judge directed a pre-sanction probation report be prepared and remanded Roche on continuing bail to appear again on January 6, 2026.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.