A homeless man who was found cycling along a main road holding a chisel and concealing other implements to be used in a burglary was sentenced to a total of 12 months when he appeared at Galway District Court this week.
Josef Kanalos (43 ) with an address at Fairgreen Hostel was brought in custody before Judge Mary Fahy on Monday and pleaded guilty to being in possession of vicegrips, chisel, crowbar, and a torch with the intention of using the tools in a theft or burglary at Dublin Road, Merlin Park, and failing to produce on demand a valid passport on March 5, 2010.
Inspector Pat McHugh told the court that at 12.25am the defendant was seen cycling and holding a chisel in his left hand by gardai. When the gardai got nearer they saw him throw the chisel over the wall. He was stopped and gardai found other implements including a crowbar and a torch hidden in his jacket. When questioned Kanalos admitted that he had the tools “in the hope of committing a burglary”.
Regarding previous convictions Inspector McHugh said that Kanalos had received suspended sentences last year for failing to appear in court and for threatening and abusive behaviour. He also had convictions for theft and being in possession of stolen property.
Defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn said that his client, who is from the Czech Republic, had worked as an electrician but was now unemployed. He said that Kanalos had run into financial difficulties and that “he wouldn’t enter a house where there were occupants, it was more sheds and the like”.
Mr MacLynn further explained that the defendant’s birthday had been on March 3, two days before, and the celebrations had continued. He said that Kanalos had co-operated with gardai when apprehended and that his immigration papers came into Garda possession. The court heard that Kanalos’s papers had been lost or mislaid, that he had contacted his embassy, but they would only issue a new passport if he returned to the Czech Republic.
Mr MacLynn said that Kanalos was unable to get employment without a passport. “He wishes to return [home] now,” said Mr MacLynn.
