This article is from page 11 of the 2013-12-31 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
AN ENNIS man has received a fivemonth prison sentence after admitting breaking into a family home in Drumcliffe earlier this year.
Stephen Moloney (34) used a rock to smash the back window of the house in Drehidngower on the outskirts of Ennis on May 22, 2013.
Mr Moloney stole € 200 from the house, Ennis District Court heard on Thursday.
Imposing a five-month sentence for burglary, shoplifting and criminal damage offences, Judge Durcan said he had to bear in mind the impact Mr Moloney’s actions had on his victims.
Judge Durcan said the confidence of the victims of the burglary at Drehidnagower “must be shattered”.
“The message must go out loudly and clearly that private living spaces are inviolable,” he added.
Detective Garda Mike Kelly of Ennis Garda Station told the court the house, which is owned by a 66year-old man and his wife, was unoccupied at the time of the burglary. He said Mr Moloney was arrested after CCTV footage of the area was viewed.
Det Kelly said the accused made full admissions but had not paid € 40 compensation to cover the cost of the broken window.
Mr Moloney, with an address at Oakwood Drive, Ennis, also pleaded guilty to theft of items including X Box games, dog food, bottles of wine and a toothbrush from Tesco, Lynch’s Centra and Boot’s Chemist between June 24 and June 29, 2013.
He also admitted throwing a rock through a window of Ennis Community College on June 27.
Insp Tom Kennedy said the accused has 69 previous convictions, with over half of those for theft.
Solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client, a father of one, says he was drunk when he broke into the house.
Of the incident at Ennis Community College, Ms Godfrey said her client was very drunk and went to the Garda station afterwards to tell them what he had done.
Judge Patrick Durcan said Mr Moloney had gone on a “complete rampage”.
Of the burglary offence, Judge Durcan said, “I don’t know this family but its not just the pane of glass that cost € 40 that would have affected them, their sense of confidence must be shattered.”
He imposed sentences totalling five months. Recognizances were fixed in the event of an appeal.