A city man’s luck ran out this week when he was jailed for his part in two robberies committed last year, after he came to Garda attention in September, while being given a chance by Judge Mary Fahy to mend his ways since his last court appearance in June.
Michael Ryan (21 ), 24 Aisling Court, Renmore, Galway, was involved in a burglary at a house in Boireann Beg, Oranmore, during which an Audi car was taken and with a burglary at Horkan’s Garden Centre, Lydican, Oranmore, on the night of August 18/19 last year.
Ryan pleaded guilty to allowing himself to be carried in the car, and to both burglaries when he first appeared before the court on June 23 last.
Hearing at the time that Ryan was responding well to addiction treatments, Judge Mary Fahy deferred sentencing until this week’s court to see if he behaved himself and did not come to Garda notice in the meantime. She directed a Garda behaviour report on the accused be furnished to the court this week and warned him that his behaviour between June and this week’s court would determine whether or not a suspended sentence be imposed.
Inspector Pat McHugh informed the court on Monday last that the Garda report was not favourable. He said Ryan was caught driving a car without insurance while disqualified from driving on September 25 last.
Ryan had been fined €500 and disqualified from driving for 12 months at the court on June 23 for driving without insurance in a separate incident the preceding July.
Hearing the Garda behaviour report was not good, Judge Fahy said she would have to deal with the charges on a custodial basis.
Defence solicitor Susan McLoughlin said her client would dispute that he was driving a car in September and the matter had not come before the court yet.
Judge Fahy said that made no difference. She said Ryan had come to Garda notice and the fact that he had a matter pending had nothing do with the court. She said she had been given reports at the June hearing stating that Ryan was dealing with his addictions and while he got his chance because of that, he didn’t take it.
Judge Fahy sentenced Ryan to four months in prison for the burglary at the garden centre and a further four months for burglary at a house in Roscam. A three-month consecutive sentence was also imposed on him for allowing himself to be carried in a car stolen from the occupiers of the house at Roscam. Leave to appeal the sentences was granted.
