A Ballybane man involved in over eight burglaries at various homes, many of which were occupied, has been sentenced to a total of 22 months in jail.
Jason O’Neill (25 ) with an address at 36 Rian Luachra, Ballybane, was brought before Judge Aeneus McCarthy at Galway District Court last Monday where he pleaded guilty to numerous burglaries on different dates. He also pleaded guilty to charges of being intoxicated in a public place and for threatening and abusive behaviour at Castlepark on July 15, 2008.
A co-accused, Darren Harrison (23 ) with an address at 304 Castlepark, Ballybane, pleaded guilty to participating in a burglary at 42 Wellpark Grove on December 23, 2008. He also pleaded guilty to stealing a six-pack of beer at Joyce’s Supermarket in Knocknacarra on May 12, 2009.
Inspector Ernie White told the court that on December 23, 2008, at 7.30am O’Neill and Harrison entered 42 Wellpark Grove while the occupants were asleep upstairs. The occupants heard a noise and when they came downstairs to investigate they saw the defendants running from the rear of the house. O’Neill and his accomplice had stolen three sets of car keys, jackets, and a number of CDs.
On the same date O’Neill had also tresspassed at 40 Wellpark Grove. On December 20, 2008, O’Neill entered 1a Tara Grove and stole €300 cash. Two days later he entered 25 Wellpark Grove and stole an Xbox game and console. The inspector further explained that on April 6, 2009, O’Neill entered 12 Rinn Luachra at 3am and stole a handbag which contained a Sony MP3 player, €20, a silver bracelet, and an envelope containing €120. The handbag, the MP3 player, and the bracelet were recovered.
The court heard that O’Neill had 16 previous convictions including a four month sentence suspended for two years in March 2008 for theft and criminal damage. Harrison had one previous conviction for possession of drugs for which he recieved a fine in June 2008.
After careful deliberation Judge McCarthy convicted O’Neill and sentenced him to a total of 22 months. Harrison, on the other hand, was remanded on continuing bail to November 23 to await a probation report.
