Jail sentences totalling nearly two years were imposed on two brothers who, in an organised operation, travelled from Dublin to Galway on at least two occasions to make gain by breaking into parking meters in the city.
At Galway District Court on Monday Toader Feier (23 ) and Vasile Feier (29 ) both with an address at 12 Portland Street, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to the charges of criminal damage of a pay and display machine, attempting to commit theft, attempting to get into a mechanically propelled vehicle, and being in possession of a 18v Dewalt cordless drill, a drill bit, screw driver, and steel barrel with intent to commit theft at The Crescent, Galway, on November 20, 2011. They were also charged with stealing property, to wit, the contents of pay and display machine valued at €1,007.85, the criminal damage of a pay and display machine at New Road, and stealing the contents of a pay and display machine valued at €415 and criminal damage of the machine at Canal Road on January 29, 2011. Toader Feirer was further charged with resisting Garda Pat Fahy and threatening and abusive behaviour at The Crescent on November 20, 2011.
Garda Pat Fahy gave evidence that on Sunday, November 20 at 4.55am he responded to a call regarding two males acting suspiciously around parking meters and a car in The Crescent area of the city. At the scene Garda Fahy observed Toader Feier in possession of a black bag. Toader then ran from the scene with Garda Fahy in hot pursuit on foot. The court heard that the chase ended 300 metres away and when Garda Fahy went to apprehend the defendant Feier attempted to discard the black bag by throwing it up on to the roof of nearby building. Toader Feier was restrained after a struggle and Garda Fahy managed to convey him to Galway Garda Station.
Bag contained tools and plastic bags
The bag which the defendant tried to get rid off contained implements including a Dewalt drill, a drill bit, screwdriver, steel barrel, and empty plastic bags. Garda Fahy then explained that Vasile Feier had been hiding behind a wall near the parking meter before attempting to flee the area, however, he too was arrested and brought to Galway Garda Station. The court heard that a number of holes, consistant with drill bit, had been drilled into the parking meter and that the defendants had used this technique to try to force open the parking meters but they were unsuccessful on this occasion.
Interpol enquiries
During the course of eight interviews, which took place from the time of arrest through to the following day, the two men were questioned in relation to a number of similar incidents in the city throughout 2011. The brothers made admissions to two incidents on January 29 last year in which parking meters in New Road and Canal Road were tampered with.
“When interviewed they said they had travelled by bus to Galway for that purpose, but we didn’t believe them. On the Sunday [November 20, 2011], at 11.30pm a car was found which was registered to Vasile... the keys were found hidden under the wheel,” said Garda Fahy, who added that the car was searched and a number of implements were found - including a spare battery for the portable drill hidden in the boot as well as empty bags - which were used for breaking into parking meters. When this discovery was put to the defendants they admitted driving down to Galway for the purpose of breaking into parking meters.
Garda Fahy then told the court that this was an “unique crime” in which the drill was used to make holes in the side of the machines, force the vault to open and get the cash box out. The court heard that the cost of replacing the specialised vaults and cash boxes is estimated at nearly €700 but that the amount of cash that was stolen, and the loss of revenue to Galway City Council, is difficult to quantify.
Enquiries were made with Interpol and the Romanian authorities to establish the men’s identities. Finger prints and photographs were sent with the result that any identity issues were cleared up and it was found that while the defendants did not have previous convictions in this jurisdiction they did have convictions elsewhere. Toader Feier has one previous conviction imposed in the UK in 2004 for theft while Vasile has 19 previous convictions mainly in Romania - five relating to theft offences and the remainder for road traffic.
A barrister defending both men said that they were prepared to return to Romania if the court saw fit to impose a suspended sentence, however, Judge Mary Fahy refused to consider this noting that both men had travelled from Dublin on two occasions for the purpose of committing these crimes which were “organised”. Judge Fahy then commended the investigating gardai, adding “Had this been allowed to continue a number of these machines would have been interfered with and would have to be replaced with the tax payer ultimately paying the price.”
Noting that both men had been acting in concert Judge Fahy convicted Vasile and sentenced him to a total of 22 months in jail plus a three year disqualification from driving while Toader was sentenced to a total of 23 months. Leave to appeal was granted.
