A man who stole a €400 bottle of wine, attempted to evade arrest by jumping into a river, and used Woodquay as his “stomping ground” to steal cars has been sentenced to 13 months in jail.
Martin Burke (28 ) with an address at 96 Castlepark, Ballybane, pleaded guilty at Galway District Court last Monday to a number of charges including interfering with a car, unlawful possession of a car, theft of alcohol from various premises, obstruction, and three counts of failing to appear in court.
Inspector Ernie White told the court that Burke had entered Slainte Off Licence at Bother Ui Eithir, on January 23, 2009, at 6.50pm and stole a bottle of wine, a Chateaux Lynchbags, valued at €400.
“He was going for the good stuff,” quipped Judge Mary Fahy.
The court then heard that on February 2, 2009, Burke entered The Front Door in Cross Street during lunch time and stole a bottle of Smirnoff vodka valued €25. He also stole a bottle of Huzzar Vodka from Supervalu, Fr Griffin Road, on March 21, 2009. None of these items was recovered.
Inspector White further explained that on February 17, 2009, at 12.30pm the defendant had been in the Woodquay area and was found interfering with two cars. Burke admitted to gardai that he had been trying to take the vehicles and was arrested. On December 10, 2008, at 12.10am at Waterside, Woodquay, the defendant had been seen sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle and when he saw gardai he ran from the car and jumped into the River Corrib. Burke then attempted to escape by swimming to the other side but, according to Inspector White, he then “thought better of it” and came back. Burke was arrested for being drunk and a danger to himself and for attempting to unlawfully take possession of a vehicle.
Inspector White added that the defendant has three previous convictions including prison sentences imposed for larceny and criminal damage.
Defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn said that his client had worked in the US in the building trade for a number of years but fell off a roof and suffered serious injuries. As a result he was forced to pay €20,000 in medical expenses and came back to Ireland “where his problems began”. Mr MacLynn said that Burke began drinking heavily and suffered from depression.
After hearing the evidence Judge Fahy said that she felt sorry for the people who lived in the Woodquay area and parked their cars there. “This was his stomping ground,” she added before convicting and sentencing Burke to a total of 13 months and disqualifying him from driving for two years.
