A teenager, described in court has someone who had “slipped through the system”, pleaded guilty to offences which include burglary and the theft of a car and has been further remanded into custody for possible sentencing.
Eighteen-year-old Charlie Mongan of 63 Camillaun Park, Newcastle, appeared before Judge Mary Fahy at Galway District Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to burglary, posession of certain articles, and the unauthorised taking of an MPV at Regan’s Bar, Clonboo, on April 3, 2011.
Inspector Brendan Carroll told the court that at 2.40am the defendant travelled to Regan’s Bar in a stolen vehicle. He then entered the premises while in possession of a number of implements including a screwdriver, gloves, and a hammer. In the course of going to Regan’s Bar, the defendant had been travelling in a stolen car but had not been driving.
Defence solicitor Olivia Traynor acknowledged that the court was very familiar with her client and had done “everything” to help him. She added that Mongan had spent a number of months in custody for other offences, that he had been assessed, and that he had been released with the remainder of the sentence suspended when these latest offences were committed.
“He has quite a lot of difficulties. It is one of the saddest cases I have come across, the defendant is someone who has slipped through the system,” said Ms Traynor who added that although assessements have taken place the support is not there for them.
“There is little that the court can do. This was less than a week later, after being released, that he got involved in a burglary. He seems to be engaging in more serious crime,” said Judge Fahy.
As Mongan breached the conditions of a suspended sentence imposed for a separate offence he was remanded in custody to appear at Galway Circuit Court on May 3. He is then due to be remanded in custody to appear again at Galway Distrist Court on May 18 for completion of these latest matters.
