Burglar who terrified woman and her young daughter in their Cork home avoids jail

Defendant smashed in a downstairs window and the woman saw him putting his hand through the broken window to open the latch on the door, shouting at her ‘Open the door', court heard

Defendant has 100 previous convictions, court heard. Picture: Larry Cummins

A woman living with her young daughter in Bandon was terrified when a stranger smashed his way into her home at 3am, and now the culprit has been given a four-year suspended sentence.

Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed that sentence on Hughie Maguire, who pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and criminal damage.

“It was terrifying for this lady and her daughter. It happened at night and they were significantly upset by this,” the judge said.

Sergeant Pat Russell said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court the burglary occurred at 3am on August 5, 2023, at Nicholas Church Lane, Bandon, Co Cork.

Glass was smashed in a downstairs window and the woman who lived there went down to see a man outside putting his hand through the broken window to open the latch on the door.

“He was aggressive and shouting: ‘Open the door, open the door.’ She was terrified. She got her daughter and ran out of her home through the front door and phoned the gardaí. She now fears for her safety.

“Hughie Maguire can be seen on CCTV walking around the building — he is walking around the building, he is very intoxicated, he is seen putting on gloves. With a hammer in his hand, he tries to enter a number of apartments. He was arrested and detained and was uncooperative.

“The woman does not want to make a victim impact statement. But she is frightened. She and her daughter have difficulty sleeping in the house,” Sgt Russell said.

Judge Dermot Sheehan was told Hughie Maguire was now working and living in Dublin, where he has an address at Glenmore House in Swords and doing much better in his life, although he had 100 previous convictions.