This article is from page 17 of the 2014-10-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
A 20-YEAR-old man who pleaded guilty to handling manhole covers stolen from the M18 motorway has been told he may face a lengthy prison sentence.
At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan said he is considering imposing a jail term on Jonathan Shane O’Donoghue.
Mr O’Donoghue, with an address at Bog Road, Tulla pleaded guilty earlier this month to handling 15 stolen manhole covers near Tubber on March 5, 201
Giving evidence in court two weeks ago, Garda Caitrìona Mangan of Ennis Garda Station told she received a report of suspicious activity involving a van and two people.
Garda Mangan said at the motorway near Tubber she observed the accused lift and place a manhole cover into a van.
Garda Mangan said she saw 15 manhole covers in the back of the van.
The court heard the items were worth € 3750.
Judge Patrick Durcan put it to Garda Mangan, “you caught him red-handed basically”.
The court heard Mr O’Donoghue claimed to gardaí he met a man at the side of the motorway near Limerick who told him he could have all the manhole covers on the motorway between Ennis and Gort.
Mr O’Donoghue says he paid € 110 for the covers.
He has two previous convictions for public order and road traff c offenc es.
Judge Patrick Durcan said Mr O’Donoghue engaged in the most “audacious type of criminality” when he was caught with the stolen manhole covers.
However he said the accused was a person of limited education who had very little previous convictions. “There is a diff culty in sentencing” the Judge said.
Judge Durcan said he required time to consider the case further.
He remanded Mr O’Donoghue on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.
Last week, Judge Durcan further adjourned sentencing.
He ordered a probation report and remanded Mr O’Donoghue on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on November 19. The judge said this was a case that “troubled” him as regards to sentencing. He sad the accused “essentially” has no previous convictions.
However he said he was considering a “lengthy” prison sentence “by virtue of the nature and organised nature” of the offence.