This article is from page 18 of the 2012-12-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
A LIMERICK man who committed multiple thefts in Ennis to pay off drug debts has been sentenced to 11 months in prison.
Edward O’Sullivan (23), with an address at 68 (A) Abbeyville, Limerick Road, Ennis, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.
He pleaded guilty to the theft of a handbag from an unoccupied house on the Limerick Road, Ennis on August 9.
The court heard that Mr O’Sullivan was found by gardaí to in possession of a kitchen knife at the Topaz filling station on November 5.
He pleaded guilty to breaking the window of a car parked on Francis Street between 4.15pm and 4.30pm on November 9.
He also admitted to taking a handbag, and an Apple Ipod.
Mr O’Sullivan was found soon after by gardaí on Harmony Row in possession of the goods.
He told gardaí that he had bought the Ipod of a heroin addict for € 10. He later admitted the theft, the court heard.
Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that Detectives in Ennis were investigating a series of burglaries in the town.
As a result gardaí carried out a search of 68 (A) Abbeyville, Limerick Road, Ennis on November 19.
They found a number of items stolen from a car in the Shanballa area of the town. Mr O’Sullivan pleaded guilty to a charge of handling stolen property. The court heard that Gardaí stopped Mr O’Sullivan at High Street, Ennis on November 19.
Insp Kennedy said the accused was wearing an Armani leather jacket that had been taken during a burglary of a house in Claureen.
Other items including an Apple Ipod and an Ipod docking station, also taken from the house in Claureen, were also recovered.
The court heard that Mr Sullivan has numerous previous convictions.
Defence solicitor Ted McCarthy told the court that his client comes from an extremely dysfunctional family in Limerick.
He said Mr O’Sullivan’s father is serving a life sentence in prison.
Mr McCarthy said his client had been addicted to drink and drugs and had left Limerick over a drug debt.
He said Mr O’Sullivan had committed the offences to get money to pay off his debts and to buy more drugs.
In relation to the knife found on Mr O’Sullivan on November 5, Mr McCarthy said his client was in fear of the people he owed money to.
Judge Patrick Durcan said that while he noted Mr O’Sullivan’s pleas of guilty and his difficult family circumstances, these were offences of a “most serious nature.”
He said the court would “not tolerate people walking around Ennis with knives.” Judge Durcan said that in wearing the stolen Armani jacket around Ennis, Mr O’Sullivan had displayed “arrogance and gall.”
He imposed sentences totalling 11 months. Recognaces were fixed in the event of an appeal.