A man who cheekily trespassed in a city centre hotel three times in just two days and stole more than €700 has been jailed for 15 months at Galway District Court this week.
Forty-year-old Stephen Keary, with an address at 20 Belsize Court, Newcastle, had been summoned to court last Monday to face offences of trespass, theft, possession of drugs, and a number of road traffic offences to which he pleaded guilty.
Inspector Pat McHugh told the court that on May 29, 2009, the general manager of the House Hotel in Flood Street noticed that money had been taken from a money box in the duty manager’s office. After viewing CCTV footage he realised that the culprit had been in the hotel earlier. Keary was then seen the following day entering the hotel a third time and gardai were called. Inspector McHugh said that on the first occasion Keary had taken €350 from the staff changing rooms. He came back again and stole €400 from the duty manager’s office.
The inspector further explained that on February 11, 2009 gardai obtained a search warrant after receiving information and went to a premises at Liam Mellows Terrace in Bohermore where a search was conducted at 9.45pm. Gardai found tin foil with burn marks and traces of heroin, as well as a number of pipes.
On April 23, 2009, at Liam Mellows Terrace, Keary was stopped driving a vehicle which was found to be displaying discs for another vehicle. He was also found to be driving without insurance or driving licence, and failed to produce both documents.
The inspector further explained that Keary had entered Boots on Christmas Eve last at 5pm and had attempted to steal two rolls of wrapping paper and a bag, valued at €14. He had been held by security staff when the gardai arrived.
Regarding the offence of possession of false discs, Keary’s solicitor Ms Fiona McAllister told the court that her client had just bought the vehicle days earlier and was not aware there was a problem with the discs. Ms McAllister then explained that her client had co-operated fully with gardai in respect of all offences. She said that her client, who is a grandfather, had weaned himself off drugs by going “cold turkey” and was trying to get his life back in order.
The court then heard that Keary has 71 previous convictions which include a number of road traffic offences, burglary, and theft. Inspector McHugh noted that in November 2005 Keary had been disqualified from driving for six years for drink driving and refusing to give a breath sample and therefore he had been still disqualified when stopped on April 23, 2009.
“If he is in a position to come off drugs of his own volition it’s to his credit, unfortunately he has a huge range of previous,” said Judge Mary Fahy who then convicted Keary and imposed a total of 15 months and disqualified him from driving for four years.
The court then heard that new charges had been brought against Keary. These include possession of tools with the intention to use them in a theft or burglary on February 21, 2010, at Corrib Park, Newcastle, and driving without insurance and a driving licence.
Ms McAllister made an application to have her client remanded on continuing bail in respect of these charges, however Inspector McHugh asked that he be remanded in custody.
Judge Fahy refused bail and remanded Keary in custody to appear at Harristown District Court on February 26 for DPP directions.
