Man hired haulage firm to unknowingly steal Masterkabin from derelict Cork house

At one point in the proceedings, Judge Helen Boyle said the defendant had told 'a pack of lies'

Judge Helen Boyle said she would imposed a three-year suspended sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. File picture: Larry Cummins

A reputable haulage firm was hired to move a €5,000 Masterkabin from Mallow to a 60-year-old man’s property in Tipperary, but the company had no idea that the man was actually using them to steal the portable building.

Detective Garda Aidan Long investigated the case against Michael Shannon with an address at Ahane, Newport, County Tipperary.

The investigation of the theft of the property from the grounds of what appeared to be a derelict house at Hazelwood in Mallow, County Cork, was greatly assisted by a photograph taken by a woman in the area who became suspicious of what was taking place that day — August 4, 2023.

Det. Garda Long said Michael Shannon stood at the gate of the Mallow property looking out while two men with a rigid truck loaded the large container-type structure onto the back of the vehicle.

A witness took a photograph of the removal of the container which included the defendant and the clearly identified name of the haulage company.

This company was contacted by the detective as soon as the theft was reported and they identified Michael Shannon as the person who had employed them to remove it.

'Pack of lies'

When questioned, he said he bought it on DoneDeal but when the internet site was contacted by gardaí they confirmed that no such property was advertised for sale through them. 

Michael Shannon then changed his story and said he bought it at Buttevant Horse Fair. But he was unable to say what time of the year that the fair was held.

Judge Helen Boyle said that, basically, Michael Shannon had told “a pack of lies”. He had 38 previous convictions including counts for drug-dealing.

Sentencing

Brendan Kelly, defence barrister, said the theft was opportunistic and that the defendant thought that the premises was derelict where the cabin was stored. 

Mr Kelly said because of the efficiency of the investigation the cabin was returned to its owner within one week of the theft. He stressed that the defendant had poor health.

Judge Helen Boyle said she would imposed a three-year suspended sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. She warned the accused that if he was before the court again he would face jail.

Michael Shannon said: “You’ll never see me again.”