This article is from page 6 of the 2014-10-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
AN Ennis man who grabbed a handbag during an “opportunistic” burglary at a health shop in Ennis has been sentenced to four months in detention.
Thomas McCarthy (20) reached through a door of Open Sesame and grabbed a ladies handbag before f ee ing the scene, Ennis District Court heard on Wednesday. A 52-year-old woman who was working in the shop at the time gave chase but was unable to catch the accused, the court heard.
Mr McCarthy, with an address at 12 Pearse Avenue, Cloughleigh, Ennis, pleaded guilty to entering Open Sesame, Parnell Street, Ennis as a trespasser on August 8 and committing theft therein.
Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the woman left her bag in a storeroom at the rear of the store.He said a door leading onto a lane was left open. The court heard the woman saw a hand reach through the door and grab the bag.
Insp Kennedy said the accused made his escape through car-parks and over a footbridge in the Abbey Street car-park. Mr McCarthy was identif ed through a follow up inves tigation. The bag was recovered with all the items inside.
Mr McCarthy has 21 previous convictions for public order, criminal damage and robbery.
Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said, “My client is a single man with no child who comes to court knowing he is going to prison”.
Ms Godfrey said her client was asking the court to extend whatever leniency it can in sentencing.
She said Mr McCarthy returned all items and his plea of guilty is substantial in the case. She said her client instructed her to apologise to the victim.
Ms Godfrey said her client was pre- viously a substance abuser but is now clean and intends to work with addiction treatment services in prison.
Judge Durcan adjourned the case for a period to consider sentencing.
When the case resumed, Judge Durcan said burglary is a serious offence but this incident does not fall into the upper category.
The Judge said he took into account the accused’s guilty plea and the fact the property was recovered.
However Judge Durcan said he had to balance all that against the effect this crime had on the victim, “a 52 year old woman who took f ight after the defendant unsuccessfully”.