This article is from page 9 of the 2013-12-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
A 20-YEAER-OLD man involved in burglaries in which € 11,000 in cash and jewellery was stolen from homes in Shannon this year has escaped a prison sentence.
Jamie Considine was warned he could be still be sent to jail if he stepped out of line over the next few months. At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Mr Considine pleaded guilty to his role in eight burglaries that occurred in the Tullyglass, Inis Sioda, Tullyvarraga and Dun Na Óir areas of Shannon between January 11 and March 22.
Mr Considine, with an address at The Magnet, O’Donoghue Avenue, Janesboro, Limerick, was one of a group of people who broke into the unoccupied family homes.
The court heard Mr Considine did not enter all of the houses but acted as a lookout on some occasions. He was paid in drugs for his role in the offences, the court heard.
The court heard the items taken from the houses included large sums of cash, valuable pieces of jewelry and commemorative medals.
Insp Michael Gallagher said the owners returned to find their homes ransacked. Judge Patrick Durcan said he reluctantly accepted jurisdiction.
Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client had indicated he would be pleading guilty at an early stage. He said Mr Considine, who has now moved to Ballybunion, fully cooperated with gardaí and has no previous convictions.
The court heard that at the time the offences were committed, Mr Considine was abusing cannabis, cocaine, heroin and Xanax.
Mr Hassett said his client has abided by strict bail conditions and his efforts and commitment to give up drugs has impressed the Probation Services. Judge Durcan said a 12-month prison sentence would send out the message that burglaries would not be tolerated.
Asked for his views on the crimes, Insp Gallagher said eight families had suffered the ordeal of these burglaries. “I know if it happened to me, I’d hate to see them walk free,” he added. Judge Durcan adjourned sentencing for a brief period. When the case was re-called, Judge Durcan said he was going to remand Mr Considine on continuing bail, subject to conditions outlined by the Probation Services, to appear again in court on March 12, 2014.
The State were granted liberty to re-enter the cases at 24 hours notice.
“If you step out of line between now and March, everything comes back,” Judge Durcan warned. Mr Considine thanked Judge Durcan for giving him a chance.