This article is from page 4 of the 2012-07-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
A HEROIN addict who admitted handling stolen money totalling € 3,500 has received a three-year prison sentence.
Half of the term handed down to Michael Sweeney (23) at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court yesterday was suspended.
Mr Sweeney, with an address at 13 Wood Road, Kilrush, pleaded guilty to handling stolen money in Kilrush last July.
The court heard that gardaí received a report that € 18,000 was stolen from a car in Kilrush on July 4 (2011). Garda Oliver Downes of Kilrush Garda Station, told the court that the owner of the money had intended to buy a car. He said the money had been kept in three envelopes in his car.
A search was carried out at Mr Sweeney’s home but no money was found, the court heard. Garda Downes said the accused was arrested and later made admissions to gardaí. He said Mr Sweeney told them that he had met two other people in a nearby woods.
The court heard that Mr Sweeney received € 3500, of which he spent € 1250 on a Toyota Corolla and € 500 on drugs. He told gardaí that he gave € 1880 to a third party. The court heard that Mr Sweeney has 23 previous convictions and suffers from a “very severe” heroin addiction.
Counsel for Mr Sweeney, Pat Whyms BL, said no evidence had offered in the case other than his client’s admission of guilt. He said nobody else had been charged in relation to the case.
Mr Whyms added, “He received the money, he did know it was stolen, but he did not steal it.”
Mr Whyms told the court that his client had been given the money by one of the men who had committed the theft. He said this man had previously damaged a car belonging to Mr Sweeney and this money was to cover the cost. He said that at all times, Mr Sweeny had been “completely upfront about what happened.”
Judge Carroll Moran noted that there would have been no case against Mr Sweeney “without the admissions he made.”
He added, “If he had stayed quiet there would have been no case against him at all.”
He imposed a three-year sentence and suspended the final 18 months for four years on condition that Mr Sweeney keep the peace.
Jeanne O’GRADY
of 59 Marian Estate, Kilkee. Peacefully at St. Joseph’s Hospital Ennis . Reposing onTuesday morning at Lillis Funeral Kilkee from10.30a.m, with removal at 11.30a.mto Kilkee Parish Church for Requiem Mass at 12 noon followed by burial in Kilferagh Cemetery. May she rest in peace.
Kathleen O’CONNELL
of Aughboy, Clonlara. Funeral mass onTuesday at 12 noon in Clonlara Church, with burial afterwards in Doonass Cemetery. May she rest in peace.
Thomas HANRAHAN
of Clondrinagh, Coolmeen. Suddenly. Laid to rest in Kilmurray Mc Mahon Cemetery. May he rest in peace.
Thomas McMAHON
of 9 Ballycar Road, Newmarket-on-Fergus. Laid to rest in Newland’s Cross Crematorium, Dublin. Donations if desired to Milford Hospice. May he rest in peace.
Joe McNAMARA
of Uggoon,Tulla. Laid to rest in the local cemetery inTulla. May he rest in peace.
Bridget (Bridie) O’DONOGHUE
(née Noone) of Ballycuneen, Drumline, Newmarket-on-Fergus. Laid to rest in Fenloe Cemetery. Donations if desired to Milford Hospice. May she rest in peace.
Bridget (Breda) CLEARY (née Casserly)
of Hazel Grove, Roslevan, Ennis. Laid to rest in Templemaley Cemetery. May she rest in peace.
Martin McNAMARA
of Luton, Bedfordshire, England & formerly of ShackletonTerrace,Well Road, Kilkee. Suddenly in England of Martin McNamara, Luton, England and formerly of ShackletonTerrace,Well Road, Kilkee. Cremation has taken place in England. Funeral Mass on Saturday, July 7 in St. Senan’s Church Kilkee at 11.30amfollowed by interment of Ashes in the family Grave in Lisdeen Cemetery Kilkee. May he rest in peace.
Jimmy O’DEA
of Tullabrack, Cooraclare. Peacefully. Laid to rest in Breaffa Cemetery. May he rest in peace.
Kitty FOUDY (née Glynn)
of Kylea, Inagh. Laid to rest in Inagh. Donations, if desired, to Friends of Ennistymon Hospital. May she rest in peace.
David LYSAGHT
of 7 Ross an Oir, Ballycasey, Shannon. Laid to rest in Illaunumanagh Cemetery. May he rest in peace.
Bridie (TOSF) CULLINAN (née Hickey)
of Clonroad, Ennis. Peacefully, in her 98th year. Laid to rest in Drumcliffe Cemetery. May she rest in peace.
Joe GRIFFIN
of Cragbrien, Darragh, Ennis. Peacefully. Laid to rest in Ballyea Church grounds. Donations, if desired, to Milford Hospice or Irish Cancer Society. May he rest in peace.
Sean MEEHAN
of Ardykyl, Sixmilebridge. Peacefully. Laid to rest at Feenagh Cemetery. May he rest in peace.
Emmet (Hopper) RYAN
of Dough, Kilkee. Reposing onTuesday evening at Lillis’ Funeral Home in Kilkee from5pmuntil 7pm. Remains arriving to St. Senan’s Church, Kilkee, onWednesday morning for RequiemMass at 11.30am, followed by burial in Lisdeen Cemetery. Family flowers only please donations in lieu to Pieta House. May he rest in peace.
Owen NEVILLE
of Fergus Drive, Shannon. Reposing in Milford Hospice Mortuary onTuesday at 5.30pmuntil removal at 7.30pm. RequiemMass at Mary Immaculate Church, Shannon, onWednesday at 12 noon, followed by burial afterwards in the Old Cemetery, Adare. Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, to Milford Hospice. May he rest in peace.
Margaret (Peg) BYRNE (née Malone)
of (Shambo) Blackthorn Drive, Caherdavin, Limerick, and Carrigoran Nursing Home, Newmarketon-Fergus. Reposing in Carrigoran Nursing Home, Newmarket-on-Fergus, onTuesday at 4pmuntil 7pm. RequiemMass at Carrigoran Nursing Home onWednesday at 10.30am, followed by burial afterwards in St James Church Cemetery, Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny. May she rest in peace.